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By Arthur Guy Empey 



Over the Top 
First Call 



r:k 




The Author Selling Liberty Bonds on the Famous Boston Common. 



FIRST CALL 



GUIDE POSTS TO BERLIN 



BY 

ARTHUR GUY EMPEY 

AUTHOR OF "OVER THE TOP" 



WITH 64 ILLUSTRATIONS 



G. p. PUTNAM'S SONS 
NEW YORK AND LONDON 

Ube lkntc??erbocf?er press 

1918 



. 1 



Copyright, 191 8 

BY 

ARTHUR GUY EMPEY 



l'S7> 






•Cbc «?nfcfeerbocfcet press, ticw Korft 



Co 
ROBERT GORDON ANDERSON 

THE KIND OF MAN YOU WOULD SELECT TO GO WITH YOU ON 

A TRENCH IL.\ID, KNOWING THAT HE WOULD BE 

"there" in a PINCH, IN OTHER WORDS 

A "reglxar fellow" 






O-^Lci Oo-cr^JLcK v;i^3r -,^^^3p CX^^Jl "LoJkji^ 




CONTENTS 



I. — Americans All . 

II. — To THE Mothers 

III. — "Horse Soldier," "Wagon 
Soldier," OR "Doughboy?" 

IV. — The Honor of Khaki 

V. — "You're in the Army Now. 
— Old Song 

VI. — Old Soldier and Rookie 

VII. — Watch your Step 

VIII. — Bugle Calls and Rations . 

IX. — "Barndooks" and "Hikes " 

X. — "Sentry Go " and Cold Steel 

XI. — " What SHALL I SEND Him ? " . 

XII.— "Smokes" 

XIII.— "All Aboard" . 

XIV. — Backing up the Boy 



I 

5 

i6 

32 

38 
48 
58 

63 
73 
81 
92 
98 
III 
118 



VI 



Contents 



CHAPTER 

XV. 



XVI. 

XVII. 

XVIII. 

XIX. 

XX. 

XXI. 

XXII. 

XXIII. 

XXIV. 

XXV. 

XXVI. 

XXVII. 

XXVIII. 

XXIX. 

XXX. 

XXXI. 



PoiLU AND Tommy 
Sammy" . 



Meet 



-On Landing in France 

-Spies 

-"Shirt-hunts" . 

-Rations in France 

-"The Sky-fighters'* 

-The Guns . 

-Trenches and Rest Billets 

-From my Trench Note Book 

-Periscopes and "Sentry Go " 

-Machine Guns and Snipers 

-In No Man's Land . 

-Bombing 

-Fighting Fire with Fire 

-The Attack 

-Trench Raids . 

-The Wounded . 





Con tents 


vii 


CHAPTER 




PAGE 


XXXIL- 


-"Gone West" . 


. 300 



XXXIII.— "Thank God! The Stretcher- 
bearers" .... 309 

In Closing 319 

APPENDIX 

Sammy's "Pinch" Dictionary . . . 341 

American Army Terms .... 348 

General Service Code . . . . 366 



ILLUSTRATIONS 

PAGE 

The Author Selling Liberty Bonds on 

THE Famous Boston Common Frontispiece — ' 

A Message to Sammy . . . . iv "^ 

Flags of the Civilized Nations, and of 
THE Barbarians .... 

Military Decorations .... 

Military Decorations .... 

English Identification Disc 

The Author Serving in Texas with i ith 
U. S. Cavalry, 191 i .... 

National Guardsmen Wearing Com- 
plete Outfit ..... 

German Submarine Mine-Layer, Cap- 
tured BY THE British 

British Submarine, D-8 

Cap Devices and Badges — British 

Army 128-129 

ix 



4 


34-35 


36-37 


39 


52 


53 


118 


119 



Illustrations 



Steel Helmet or "Tin Hat" 
Authority Issued by Divisional Intelli 

GENCE DePT. to SPECIAL MILITARY 

Police ..... 
British Airmen .... 
German Dirigible Returning to Pots 

DAM AFTER ReCONNOITERING TrIP 

At U. S. Aviation Training Camp . 

Observation Post Built on Trees by 
British Troops 

British Anti-Aircraft Guns 

German Bomb-Dropping Taube 

French Sausage Balloon Rising from 
Immense Mine-Crater 

French Military Dirigible . 

Captured German Fokker on Exhibi 
TioN IN Paris .... 

Camouflage Protecting Italian Line of 
Communication 

Using a Cow for Camouflage 

Austrian Scoda Gun 

Krupp Siege Mortar . 



Illustrations 

The Famous "French Seventy-Five/' 
OFTEN Called "The Savior of 
France " 

British Howitzer .... 

Diagram of Fire, Support, and Communi- 
cation Trenches .... 

Periscopes ...... 

The Lewis Gun — in Action . 

Lewis Gun ...... 

Motorcycle Equipped with Lewis Gun 

A Gun Converted into a Grenade 
Thrower .... 

An Aero Torpedo (In Argonne Sector) 

A Flame-Thrower 

A Gas Helmet .... 

Pass Issued to Wounded Soldiers at 
Devonport Military Hospital 

Cap Devices U. S. Army and Navy 



XI 

PAGE 
175- 

175/ 

182^ 
207 
216 — 
216 ^" 

217 -- 

240 - 

241 " 

254---' 
255 

295 
321 



Xll 



Illustrations 



Insignia, U. S. Army 

Cap and Collar Devices U. S. Army 

Marksmanship Badges, U. S. Army 

Insignia, U. S. Navy 

Collar Devices, U. S. Navy 

Insignia, U. S. Navy 

Insignia, U. S. Army 

Insignia, U. S. Navy 

Insignia and Devices, French Army 

Insignia and Devices, British Army 

Insignia, British Army 

Insignia and Devices, Belgian Army 

Insignia and Devices, Italian Army 

Insignia and Devices, Russian Army 

Insignia, Austrian Army 

Insignia, German Army 

Semaphore Code, U. S. Army. 



FIRST CALL 
GUIDE POSTS TO BERLIN 



First Call 



CHAPTER I 

AMERICANS ALL 

'T^HE United States is at war. To many of us, 
as yet, the above fact carries no significance ; 
it is merely accepted as something disagreeable 
which cannot be avoided. In this immense and 
wonderfully rich country of ours it is hard for 
the people to realize that they have entered the 
greatest conflict in history — the bloodiest, the 
crudest of them all. 

The actual scene of fighting is too far away ; all 
about them is industry and prosperity. Recruit- 
ing posters and men in uniform seem strangely 
out of place. It is hard to reconcile the two. 
To bring war home to the individual, to make 
him realize its awfulness, that individual must 



2 First Call 

suffer; he must see war, must live war, must 
breathe war. 

This war is really not so far away, although 
thousands of miles separate. us from the scene of 
armies tearing and rending at each other's vitals. 
The distance is bridged in a few minutes by the 
cable and telegraph conveying the news that a 
loved one has fallen on the field of battle. When 
the casualty lists begin to appear, then, and not 
until then, will the people as a whole fully realize 
what this war means to them. It took England 
more than a year to awake to the seriousness and 
magnitude of the task before her. It must not 
take America that long. To win this war every 
American must do his and her share to help, and 
start right now, because delay means the useless 
sacrifice of thousands of lives of our best manhood. 

We are not fighting an honorable enemy; we 
are fighting murderers and pirates, and the sooner 
they are stamped out the safer it will be for 
civilization. 

We are at war with Germany, not only Prussian- 
ism and militarism, but with the German people 
and everything connected with Germany. The 
trenches are manned by the German people; 
Prussianism and militarism are supported by the 



Americans All 3 

German people; German people are sinking our 
ships, killing our boys, and bombing our hospitals. 
Is Uncle Sam going to sit idly by while this is 
going on? Not likely, it's against the old boy's 
nature. So up and at them, America! 

The German in the trenches can be handled by 
our boys at the front, but what about the German 
at home here in the United States? The one who 
stabs us in the back! Are we going to let these 
snakes hinder and undermine our armies at the 
front or are we going to safeguard our boys and 
exterminate the pests? 

Although we are fighting Germany, German 
language newspapers are being published all 
about us. 

The Germans in the United States, whether 
naturalized or not, who are unwilling to renounce 
their Fatherland and who are unwilling to fight 
this Fatherland with rifle and bayonet, are our 
enemies and should be interned immediately. 

We have many men who hold high offices of 
trust who are nothing more or less than pro- 
Germans or spies in the pay of Germany. They 
have tried and are now trying to hinder the success- 
ful promotion of this war. These men should be 
hanged as traitors; shooting is too good for them. 



4 First Call 

Before the United States entered the war, the 
genuine pacifist was to be respected as one who 
had the strength of his convictions, but now that 
the United States is at war, it is up to every 
pacifist to help, not hinder. The pacifist to-day is 
either a pro-German or a traitor to his country 
and should be treated as such. Give a few of 
them jail sentences and see how quickly the rest 
become patriotic. 

The flag flying from the front of your home is 
your flag, our flag; our fathers shed their blood 
to put it there; now it is up to every man and 
\/oman of us to shed our blood, if need be, to 
keep it there. If you will not do this, you are 
not an American and America does not want you. 
Go over where you belong, under the German 
flag of murder, rapine, dishonor, and treachery. 



CHAPTER II 

TO THE MOTHERS 

TN a book of this kind there are so many topics 
to be considered that but little space can 
be given to each. However, I am going to 
devote a chapter to the topic nearest my heart 
— the American Mother. First for a very per- 
sonal reason, because I have a mother, and 
know what she has suffered, especially during 
the time that I was in the trenches and while 
I was lying wounded in hospitals in England. 
Second, because I know that every man with an 
ounce of brains believes that in all ages the bur- 
den of war has fallen most heavily on the mothers. 
Your boy has entered the army or navy, he has 
either volunteered or been drafted, — it matters 
not which. He has performed the noblest act 
of his life. He is willing to sacrifice his life, his 
all, for God, Country, Home, and Mother. This 
is a war of right, therefore it is God's war; if it 

5 



6 First Call 

were not so, America would not have unsheathed 
the sword, because America has fought and shall 
fight only on the side of Right. She could not 
do otherwise and be America. 

Every American mother who has a son in this 
war should feel proud of him. She should feel 
proud to know that she has raised a son who is 
mentally and physically fit to fight the battles of 
his country, her country, and that she has given 
this son to the cause of Justice, Democracy, and 
Liberty. 

It is useless to advise mothers not to worry 
while their sons are away, because if they did not 
worry they would not be real mothers. My 
intention is to show the American mothers 
why they should not suffer unnecessary worry. 
War at its best is a horrible thing, but not as 
horrible as most mothers imagine. Your son will 
suffer certain hardships and at times be exposed 
to danger, but not to the extent that you think. 
He will be fed and well looked out for. If he 
falls sick or is wounded, he will receive the best 
of medical attention and care. 

Remember that if he is wounded severely, the 
suffering is not great — in fact there is very little 
pain. Severe wounds are usually not as painful as 



To the Mothers 7 

superficial. To prove this statement all one has 
to do is to visit any military hospital. You will 
very seldom see drawn and dejected faces or 
listen to groans and complaints, but rather will 
be struck by the sunny smiles and cheerfulness of 
the patients. A man who is suffering greatly 
cannot be smiling and cheerful; that would be 
superhuman. I do not make the above state- 
ments from hearsay, but from actual experience, 
because I myself have been through three military 
hospitals, not as a visitor either, but as a severely 
wounded patient. 

Another thing for mothers to be thankful for 
is that their sons are not, except in very few 
instances, exposed to evil associations. They 
are mixing with the best manhood of America; 
they are men among men. They are fast learn- 
ing the meaning of true democracy, good-fellow- 
ship, and self-reliance, being far removed from the 
evils and temptations that they would ordinarily 
encounter in civil life. They are profiting men- 
tally and physically, and also spiritually, be- 
cause they are fighting in the cause of right. 
Ample opportunity is given for attending divine 
service, — in fact, the army encourages a man to 
be religious and God-fearing, because as such, 



8 Tirst Call 

men make the best soldiers. Each regiment has 
a chaplain whose duty is to look after the spiritual 
welfare of the men and to promote harmony, — 
and, Mothers, these chaplains do their duty, — 
they are wonderful men. 

While your boy is in training and is stationed 
in the United States, do not, on every stormy and 
rainy night picture him sitting in a tent, cold, 
wet, and shivering, miserable in body and soul, 
because many times he is either sitting with his 
chums around a hot and glowing stove in a Y. M. 
C. A. hut or tent, thoroughly enjoying himself, 
or at one of the numerous writing tables, 
composing the letter which you are so eagerly 
expecting. A little later in the evening a concert 
will be staged by soldier talent, after which a ten- 
minute religious service takes place. This ten- 
minute talk does a lot of good to your boy; it is 
a man's talk from a man to men and has a punch 
in it. Then the Y. M. C. A. closes and your boy 
returns to his tent to sleep, well satisfied that he 
is in the army, and if he has not already written 
to you, he will do so on the first opportunity the 
following day. 

The Y. M. C. A. is a noble institution and is 
the true friend of every soldier regardless of his 



To the Mothers 9 

religion or belief. It is an institution which every 
mother should thank from the bottom of her heart, 
because it cares for her son in the right way. Show 
me a soldier who has a disparaging word for the 
Y. M. C. A., and I will show you a soldier who is 
a detriment to the army. Even in France the 
Y. M. C. A. is much in evidence; it does not hug 
the safety zones behind the lines, but goes right 
into shell fire. I have seen Y. M. C. A. huts less 
than a mile behind the front-line trench; in fact, 
I have written letters to my own mother in the 
Y. M. C. A. while occasional enemy shells would 
go screeching overhead. 

When your boy arrives in France, he will not 
enter the front-Hne trench and its dangers im- 
mediately, but will be stationed miles behind the 
lines, occupying rest billets. At this point his real 
training will start. Then, by slow marches, with 
a rest lasting from a day to two weeks at some 
hamlet or village, between each march, he ap- 
proaches the firing line. After a few of these 
marches he will gradually come within sound of 
the guns. He hears a deep far-away rumble, 
similar to a thunder storm. Instead of this sound 
making him nervous and despondent, it has the 
opposite effect, exciting in him an eagerness to 



10 First Call 

go forward, always forward. And each day the 
sound grows louder and louder. Then some bright 
morning he will witness his first aero combat, 
and another wave of enthusiasm and patriotism 
goes through him; he chafes at the delay caused 
by frequent halts and slow marches. From here 
on you will notice a decided change in his letters. 

As he approaches nearer the line, the sounds of 
the guns take distinct forms, and he will be able 
to distinguish the firing of a gun from that of a 
bursting shell. Later on, he arrives at the sta- 
tions of his own artillery, and is surprised to 
learn that the sounds to which he has been listen- 
ing for the last few days were, in the majority of 
cases, caused by his own artillery, not that of the 
Germans. He is very curious, eager, and ex- 
pectant. He is not suffering from fear, but, in a 
way peculiar to all soldiers, is thoroughly enjoying 
this new sensation and experience. 

Then the order is received to take over a sec- 
tion of the front-line trench. His regiment moves 
up at night. There comes a rushing through 
the air, a red glow in the sky, a deafening 
sound. It is the bursting of a German high 
explosive shell. A momentary feeling of dread 
comes over him. He furtively looks around at 



To the Mothers ii 

his mates, and is surprised to see them looking 
at him, but the fact remains that they are all 
moving forward in the right direction. They are 
not running, there is no wild stampede. An- 
other shell comes over and he casually remarks, 
''Pretty close that one — Gee! those German 
gunners must be rotten shots!" and so on until 
after a while, he looks upon a bursting German 
shell with the utmost contempt. 

Then he comes to the communication trench, 
dread in his heart, fearing the time when he will 
at last be in the front-line trench of France. Two 
or three sharp "cracks" overhead, — a nervous 
shudder runs through him, — they are rifle bullets 
passing "over the top" of the trench. He is not 
hit. Some more "cracks," and at last he realizes 
that he is safe from harm, because he is down in 
a ditch — the trench. He stumbles on through 
the mud, and at last a whispered order is passed 
down the line: " In entering fire trench, no talking; 
pay strict attention to orders." Pretty soon he 
makes an abrupt turn, — in front of him is a ledge 
seemingly cut into the wall of the trench, — it is 
the fire step. Standing on this fire step, he sees 
two or three dark forms looking over the top of 
the trench, their heads silhouetted against the sky 



12 First Call 

line. The old regiment is relieved and files out 
through the communication trench. His regi- 
ment at last is holding a portion of the line on 
the Western Front, and it appears absurdly easy 
compared to what he had feared. 

After two or three days in the trenches the 
fact that "anticipation is worse than realiza- 
tion" is strongly impressed upon him. Later, 
relieved from the front-line trench and enter- 
ing rest billets, he finds many amusements for 
the soldiers. Right here, I wish to impress upon 
you the fact that there is certain propaganda 
in the United States (if its source is traced it 
will be found that it is of pro-German origin), 
spreading the report that our boys, when they 
reach France, will have ample opportunity to 
mingle with women of questionable character. 
Nowhere in the world is a stronger line drawn 
between soldiers and this class of women than in 
France. In fact, when soldiers are quartered in 
cities, towns or villages, it is a court-martial 
offense for them to be found in certain segregated 
districts. This order or regulation is strictly en- 
forced by provost guards and patrols, which con- 
stantly watch these districts and arrest all soldiers 
found within the prohibited zones, unless they 



To the Mothers 13 

have documentary evidence to prove that they 
are there on a specific military duty. 

So, Mothers, do not let this worry you in any 
way, no matter what stories to the contrary you 
may hear in the United States. 

Returning to the topic of amusements — weather 
permitting, baseball and football games are held; 
field days or athletic meets are arranged; plays 
are written and staged; — in fact, there are 
recreations which will appeal to every tempera- 
ment. 

Your boy has entered a new life. He feels 
proud of himself. He is doing man's work, and, 
be he general or private, the feeling is the same — 
each feels that without him this work of estab- 
lishing world-wide democracy would be greatly 
hindered. Your boy is not conceited, he has 
simply come into his own. 

At times, especially before going ''over the top" 
in a charge or engaging in a trench raid, he is 
going to suffer a short agony of intense fear, but 
his thoughts are not all for himself, they embrace 
the people at home as well, so he usually writes 
a farewell letter home to his mother, wife, or sweet- 
heart, before starting on one of these hazardous 
enterprises, telling her that he is going ''over the 



14 First Call 

top" and that if his letter is received it will mean 
that he has been killed. 

I am speaking from personal experience, and 
from what I have observed myself while in the 
trenches. Before going on my last trench raid, 
in which I was wounded three times, I scribbled 
a note to my mother, on a slip of paper, telling 
her that I was going on a trench raid and did not 
expect to return. I put this letter in an addressed 
envelope and turned it over to my captain with a 
request that it be mailed if I should be killed. Later 
on in the hospital, while looking over my effects, 
I came across this letter and preserved it, the 
captain having sent it with other papers left in his 
care to the dressing station before leaving France. 

Even though I experienced a misery of dread 
and fear before going "over the top" on this raid, 
still I had a feeling that at last the chance to do my 
bit was at hand, and the fear melted away and was 
replaced by a fervent ardor to die if necessary in 
the cause that we all know to be right. I am only 
an average American boy, — no higher, no lower. 
I have a mother and I know the feelings that I 
experienced on several occasions will be experienced 
by hundreds of thousands of American boys when 
they also go "over the top." 



To the Mothers 15 

Mother, feel proud that your boy is in the army 
where he belongs. Do not worry more than 
necessary over the trials and tribulations that he 
must endure, but look forward to the time when 
you and the rest of the community will be lining 
the curb, greeting him on his victorious return 
from France. 

American Mothers, the American soldier, the 
Stars and Stripes, Uncle Sam, our Country, God's 
Country, salute you! We are proud to be your 
sons! We dip our colors to you, and we hope 
and earnestly pray that you also are proud that 
we are your sons. 



CHAPTER III 



"HORSE SOLDIER," '' WAGON SOLDIER," OR 

''doughboy"? 



A LTHOUGH war is not exactly a **pink tea" 
'^*' and Sherman had the right idea of it, still 
it is not as horrible as the average civilian imagines. 
Every man has a dread of going under fire for the 
first time; way down inside he is asking himself 
the question: ''Have I a yellow streak? Will I 
prove to be a coward before my mates?" Boys, 
the yellow streak is missing ; you will come through 
all right. The fact that you suspect and dread 
this yellow color, is proof that it is not there. 
Always remember this and it will help wonderfully. 
Anticipation is worse than realization. After 
being under fire for a few minutes, a warm 
glow of confidence steals over you and you 
look proudly around at your mates; you have 
come into your own. After that nothing matters. 
In a few days you settle down to the routine of 

i6 



••Horse Soldier" or ••Doughboy**? 17 

war and laugh at your previous fears. When first 
coming in contact with the enemy, that is, within 
the range of his artillery, machine-gun and rifle 
fire, you are apt to imagine that he is invincible, 
that you have no chance against him, and con- 
sequently lose confidence in yourself, your mates, 
and officers. But always remember that the 
enemy is also thinking that you are invincible. 
Be confident, but not so over-confident that you 
neglect certain necessary precautions; always 
give the enemy credit for having the same amount 
of intelligence that you possess. 

Next to confidence, the most necessary quality 
is caution, and a wise precaution on the Western 
Front is: "Never trust a Fritz." Though he 
pledge you his honor, do not place yourself in a 
position where he can "come back at you." The 
fact that it doesn't pay to trust him has been 
proven thousands of times in this war. 

The passing of the Selective Draft bill was one 
of the finest and timeliest acts in American history. 
By this, thousands, and perhaps hundreds of 
thousands, of young American lives have been 
saved. Our country has benefited by the awful 
example of the failure of the volunteer system in 
England. If England had followed Lord Kitche- 



i8 First Call 

ner's advice and had put conscription into 
effect immediately after the declaration of war, 
consider the lives, suffering, and money she would 
have saved, and how much nearer the Allies 
would now be to victory! 

Remember it is not a disgrace to be a member 
of the Draft, it is an honor. You are not a con- 
script. Uncle Sam did not give any one a chance 
to say: "Well, if they want me, let them come and 
fetch me." He was in a hurry and had no time 
for arguments, so he resorted to the draft, which 
in Yankee means: "Come on, boys, we're going 
'over the top' for democracy, justice, and hberty — 
and self-preservation." Did you ever stop to 
think what it means to us if Germany should win 
this war? Think it over while you are putting on 
your equipment. But put on your equipment 
first, it is safer. 

While lecturing throughout the United States, 
I have answered, or have tried to answer, thou- 
sands of questions about the war. The questions 
most often asked by the man who is drafted are: 
(i.) "Which is the safest branch of the service?" 
(2.) "What are the duties of the different branches 
of the service while serving in France?" (3.) 
"If I should volunteer now, instead of waiting 



••Horse Soldier •* or ••Doughboy"? 19 

until I am called to the colors, which branch would 
you personally advise me to enter?" 

Of course, after all, the question most often 
asked is: ''How long can a man live in the front- 
line trench?" This is hardly worth answering, 
for obviously there is only one answer to it: 
"Until he gets killed." 

But to return to the reasonable questions above, 
my answer to No. i is: 

Forget the safety stuff; we are out to win this 
war, and the only real safety will be attained when 
Germany is so thoroughly licked that she can 
never again start anything. Sammy, old boy, 
just paste this Httle motto in your hat : "If you're 
going to get it, you'll get it," no matter whether 
you are in the front-line trenches of France or in 
the United States at a training camp. It's a 
motto that has carried hundreds of thousands 
through. I know it did me. Besides you'll be so 
interested in the work when you have lived in the 
trenches for a while that "Safety First" becomes 
a forgotten slogan. 

For answer to the second question I will give 
a general outline of the different branches, avoid- 
ing details, so that Sammy will know what to 
expect. 



20 First Call 

The third question, I cannot answer. Just 
read over the duties of the different branches and 
choose for yourself. As an old cavalryman, it 
would be natural for me to boost the cavalry, but, 
do you know, after serving in France and seeing 
the different arms in action, it is impossible to be 
partial, — each branch is so "darned good," and so 
ready to do its bit, that it just naturally makes you 
take off your hat to the whole ''bunch." 

This corps lays out the trenches 
Cof^^'' (Sammy in the infantry will help dig 
them) ; constructs dugouts ; makes and 
repairs roads; saps and mines; constructs and 
repairs barbed wire; builds bridges; blows up 
obstructions; lays out and constructs camp sites; 
rebuilds destroyed villages ; builds railroads ; sends 
over poison gas; in fact, it is in direct charge 
of all construction, repairing, and demolishing 
work, and handles the tools and supplies for this 
work. The army cannot do without the Engineers. 

Don't forget that much of the above work is 
done under fire. 

The engineers, while working in the first-line 
sector, are generally housed pretty safely and 
comfortably. They deserve this too, because 
they build or dig their own homes. Their dugouts 



••Horse Soldier ** or •• Doughboy **? 21 

are very deep, from fifteen to forty feet down, very 
roomy, and are furnished with real bunks which are 
usually built in tiers against the walls of the dug- 
out, two and three deep. An engineer has charge 
of a great assortment of tools and supplies, and 
would be very foolish if he didn't feather his own 
nest. 

Behind the lines they generally have the best 
billets, because they get there first. I have seen 
many envy them while in the rear, but no one 
envies them their job in the front-line sector, 
especially during the winter or when it is raining. 
Mr. Engineer, shake! 

The men of the Hospital Corps are 
non-combatants. They are doing noble Medical 
work. It is all right to be under fire 
and come in direct contact with the enemy, 
provided you are equipped mth arms to defend 
yourself, to inflict injury on the foe; the "feel" of 
them always gives you a feeling of confidence. 
A medical man carries no weapons, yet he goes 
out at the risk of his Hfe to bring you in when 
wounded. 

The medical unit attached to your regiment will 
share the hardships and dangers of the front-line 
trench with you. To help them out, men from 



22 First Call 

each platoon will either volunteer or be detailed 
as stretcher-bearers. They are given a course 
in first aid to fit them for this work. 

Their duties are to go ''over the top" with their 
platoons and bring in the wounded. They carry 
the wounded to the advanced dressing or first-aid 
stations. 

At this point the Medical Corps proper takes 
them and transports them by ambulances to the 
casualty clearing stations, ambulance field com- 
panies, field hospitals, base hospitals, etc., until 
the casualties reach their proper destinations. 
Mr. Medical Man, you are a regular fellow ! 

On the Western Front the Signal 
Corps is always busy, night and day, 
— in fact without the Signal Corps, trench 
warfare would be an impossibility. This corps 
constructs, maintains, and repairs lines of com- 
munication. No matter where you go on the 
Western Front, the work of the Signal Corps is 
always in evidence. Behind the lines you will 
see them constructing overhead telegraph and 
telephone lines, busy as bees running here and 
there, wigwagging flags, semaphoring, or sitting 
on the ground with little square boxes between 
their knees and receivers at their ears. To the 



•• Horse Soldier *• or •• Doughboy ** ? 23 

average civilian they may appear to have sud- 
denly gone crazy, but every wave of that flag, 
every move of the arm, every noise of the buz- 
zer means something important in the direct- 
ing of the campaign. As you gradually near 
the front-line sector, overhead wires become fewer 
and fewer, until, excepting in isolated cases, they 
absolutely disappear. Your signaller ceases to 
be an overhead man, — he is now a digger of 
ditches. 

Look out for the Signal Corps men when you 
go into the artillery zone where your guns are 
situated. If you aren't very careful in crossing an 
open field, you will stumble over a signal wire, 
breaking the circuit, and in a very few minutes a 
couple of Signal Corps men will appear in the 
distance and will land on you like a ton of bricks. 

Enter a trench, — you will notice many wires 
strung along the walls and men constantly repair- 
ing them. Perhaps in the dark you will stumble 
over one of these wires, which has become de- 
tached and has fallen across the trench. You 
trip and pitch headlong into about three feet of 
soft mud. After the splash of your fall, while 
trying to clear your eyes and ears from mud, a 
sarcastic voice will greet you: "What's the matter, 



24 First Call 

are you blind? Can't you see those blooming 
wires? You have busted the circuit of Obser- 
vation Post No. 11679163 X. Y. Q., and Battery 
No. 189X1743 P. D. Q. " Of course, you know 
what the signaller is talking about, — anyway do 
not argue with him, because he has a very wonder- 
ful vocabulary and it will only be a short time 
before you are completely ''gassed." 

In every Signal Corps there are many oppor- 
tunities afforded for the members to distinguish 
themselves individually, thus winning recommenda- 
tion for "Mention in Despatches" or Medals of 
Honor. At night, when the German trenches 
have been raided by bombing parties, numbering 
from fifty to twp hundred and fifty or more, I 
have seen Signal Corps men, equipped with field 
telephone and buzzer, go over with the raiders and 
establish and keep open communication between 
the bombing squad and our own front-line trench. 
It is more or less an easy matter to raid a German 
trench, because there is plenty of excitement in 
action, — but picture the lone signaller lying on 
the wet ground about ten feet from the German 
barbed wire, sending messages through his field 
telephone set, expecting every moment to be wiped 
out by a German bomb or machine gun. This 



••Horse Soldier '• or ••Doughboy"? 25 

requires the greatest quick thinking, judgment, 
and nerve. 

I have also seen a Signal Corps man mount the 
parapet of a captured German trench during an 
attack, and in broad daylight, exposed to German 
fire, wigwag back the signal "Ammunition Re- 
quired." The Signal Corps is always in the van, 
— in fact, ten or fifteen minutes after a tj-ench has 
been captured, the commanding officer of the 
attacking forces is able to communicate with his 
base of supplies. 

The Signal Corps is the nerve system of the 
army. 

My best to you, Mr. Signaller! 

The general opinion in the United 
States is that now war has developed 
into fighting in ditches or trenches, the cavalry is 
an obsolete branch of the service, and is practically 
useless on the Western Front. This is not so. 
The cavalry, of course, at the present writing is 
not able to take part in charges, scouting, cutting- 
out expeditions, etc., because the nature of the 
ground and entrenchments will not permit. But 
when we break through on the Western Front 
(which will not be in the near future, but will 
happen eventually) then the cavalry will, as of old, 



26 First Call 

demonstrate to the world its usefulness, dash, and 
efficiency. The truth of this statement was 
demonstrated in the fighting around Cambrai. 

In the earlier stages of this war the cavalry 
did wonderful work. It was the branch of 
the service until the armies dug themselves in. 
Right now the duties of the cavalrymen are similar 
to that of traffic policemen directing congested 
traffic in a large city. They are stationed, at 
some points, within three to four hundred yards 
of the front-line trench. At every crossroad you 
will see a solitary mounted man with a red band 
around his left sleeve on which appear the black 
letters "M. P. " meaning Military Police. He has 
absolute authority invested in him, and it is his 
duty to patrol all roads, villages, and keep open 
lines of communication, arresting all suspicious 
persons. In fact, he is one of the main spy-catchers 
on the Western Front. 

You must consider that the above mentioned 
work is done under shell fire, and also that 
where large attacks are contemplated, the cavalry 
is dismounted and put into the front-line trench 
to act as infantry. When this happens, the horse, 
of course, is left behind, but the cavalryman, to 
impress upon the infantryman that he is a ''horse 



••Horse Soldier '* or •• Doughboy ••? 27 

soldier,'' wears his spurs, even while sleeping. This 
fact will be vouched for by many of the infantry- 
men. In fact, the spurs impress them greatly, 
particularly when a lone cavalryman is quartered 
in a dugout to sleep with infantrymen. Somehow 
or other said cavalryman has plenty of room, 
especially if he has a bad habit of kicking in his 
sleep. I quote this from personal experience, 
having tried to sleep alongside of a man from the 
Royal Irish Hussars. 

Another advantage of being a cavalr3mian is 
that, in addition to keeping the rest of his equip- 
ment clean while resting, he is allowed to groom 
and feed his horse. The best of luck to you, Mr. 
Horse Soldier, when "Boots and Saddles" is 
sounded for open warfare! Here's hoping it 
may be soon ! 

The artillery is the battering ram of 
trench warfare. A soldier loves his 
own artillery and curses that of the enemy. 
Without artillery, war on the Western Front would 
be a rollicking picnic. The individual artillery- 
man, except in cases where he is detailed as an 
observer, very seldom gets into the front-line 
trench. He has too much to do behind the lines. 
The artilleryman is on duty twenty-four hours a 



28 First Call 

day, — that is, he does not actually work twenty- 
four hours a day, but must be ready at a moment's 
notice to man the guns and open fire. He has it a 
little easier than the infantryman, because he has 
greater facilities for keeping clean, longer hours 
for sleep and amusement, being stationed any- 
where from four hundred yards to fifteen miles 
behind the lines. He usually occupies spacious 
dugouts. This fact really reflects credit on him, 
showing his capacity for hustling and industry, as 
these dugouts are constructed by him in the time 
taken from his leisure hours. Somehow or other, 
no matter what the weather conditions, an artillery- 
man always appears spick-and-span, and takes 
great pride in keeping his gun clean. In fact it 
shines like a mirror, except where it is exposed to 
observation by the enemy. 

This unusual sort of mirror is also used to perfect 
his own toilet. An artilleryman always appears 
to be cheerful. He has a sort of happy-go-lucky 
disposition. I have witnessed a battery of 
"four fives" during a heavy action, men stripped 
to the waist, sweat pouring from them, and Ger- 
man shells bursting in the near vicinity, singing 
songs and cracking jokes while ** carrying on" 
with their work of "strafeing Kultur. " 



•• Horse Soldier *• or •• Doughboy ** ? 29 

In large attacks, where considerable advance 
has been made into the enemy positions, it is a 
sight for the gods to see light batteries go into 
action, galloping across open spaces under heavy- 
fire. 

In trench warfare, infantry without artillery 
would be helpless. Superiority in artillery effi- 
ciency will, from the actual fighting standpoint, 
win this war. If you consider that the main 
object of the enemy artillery is to smash our guns, 
then it will be readily seen that the artilleryman's 
job is not merely a social affair, and that ninety- 
five per cent, of the wounds caused in the artillery 
result from shell fire. 

The great disadvantage of being in the artillery 
is that at the actual time of firing you are unable 
to witness the effect of your bursting shells. The 
artilleryman seldom sees the objective fired at. 
Of course, after the line has been advanced, the 
German trenches taken, and the artillery moved to 
the captured positions, then a glowing pride of 
enthusiasm for his branch of the service comes over 
the artilleryman, because he then witnesses the 
awful destruction that his fire has caused the 
enemy. 

"Mr. Wagon Soldier," we are looking for- 



30 First Call 

ward to you to bust up the firm of "Me und 
Gott." 

Last but not least we come to the 
^^""^ infantry— ''The Maid-of-All-Work of 
the Army." In trench warfare an infantryman 
can be described as really belonging to the 
following branches of the service: Engineer 
Corps, Medical Corps, Signal Corps, Artillery, and 
Infantry. He has to know and be able to do a 
little of the work of each. When an infantryman 
reaches France he quickly learns that in trench 
fighting "the shovel is mightier than the sword." 
In comforts, consideration, and courtesies the 
infantry comes last, while in charges, attacks, 
raids, etc., the infantry is first. There is nothing 
too difficult for the infantryman to accomplish. 
If it is laying out a ditch or system of trenches, 
he does it ; if it is to take the German lines, build a 
road, rebuild a village, construct a dugout, dig an 
artillery emplacement, it requires the infantry to 
get on the job and somehow or other it is satis- 
factorily completed. 

The infantryman of to-day is as different from 
the infantryman of old as black from white. 
There are so many specialized branches, such as 
bombing, machine gunnery, scouting, sniping, first 



•* Horse Soldier ** or ••Doughboy"? 31 

aid and stretcher-bearing, etc., that an infantry- 
man has to be up to the mark. His training 
comprises a smattering of these specialties, and, 
later on, perhaps a complete course in each sub- 
ject. The infantry^is the backbone of the army 
and is always in the thick of it. Read an account 
of an action, see if the infantry is mentioned. If 
it is not, there was no action, so, ''Mr. Doughboy," 
although you have joined the lowest ranking 
branch of the service, every one is proud of you, 
and you can shake hands with the artillery and 
say: "Well, assisted by the other branches, we 
won the war.*' 



CHAPTER IV 



THE HONOR OF KHAKI 



WOU have selected the branch of the service 
* which you like best and have enlisted. As 
you put on your uniform do you really realize what 
an honor it is? The uniform of the United States 
Army, Navy, and Marine Corps is more or less 
respected, still there has been a tendency to regard 
it from a commercial standpoint, judging the 
wearer by the salary he receives. As an instance, 
— I was sitting in the subway next to two 
prosperous-looking business men; across the way 
was an old army sergeant, his hair turning 
gray, six service stripes on his arm, and three 
campaign ribbons on his left breast; on a 
line with these ribbons was an expert rifleman's 
badge. One of the business men whispered to 
his companion: "See that old corporal across 
the way [he was even wrong about his rank], 
there is a life wasted, — why, my office boy draws 

32 



The Honor of Khaki 33 

down a bigger salary then he." The other con- 
curred in this opinion. 

The ignorance of it ! The pity of it ! The crime 
of it ! Those two egotistical dollar chasers did not 
realize that those ''wasted lives" were making 
it possible for them to pursue their even way, main- 
tain their servants and motors, send their children 
to school, and give them a flag to be displayed from 
their windows about three times a year. 

How many American citizens, by looking at a 
man in uniform, can tell to what branch of the 
service he belongs? Very few, — about ten out of 
every hundred would be a safe guess. 

The fact is that the public is ignorant of military 
matters. They think that all one has to do is to 
change from civilian clothes into uniform, and 
behold! — an efficient soldier! 

While lecturing before the Iowa State 
University, I met a captain from the stuff^" 

United States Cavalry (I had at one 
time served in his regiment) who told me of an 
incident that happened while he was recruiting 
for the Officers Reserve Corps in Chicago. It gives 
a good example of the general public's idea of army 
training. A certain prominent business man came 
into the recruiting office, went up to the captain, 



34 First Call 

and in a self-important, puffed-up manner, asked: 
* ' Say, where can I go for a couple of days to learn 
this officer sttiff — I want a commission in the 
army?" 

If I had been that captain I would have told 
him where he could have gone. Perhaps the cap- 
tain did recommend him to the same place — at 
any rate I hope he did. 

Do you ever stop to think, Mr. Civilian, you, 
who expect to rush into the army as an officer, 
what the responsibility entails? It means that 
you yourself must be a trained and efficient soldier, 
one who has the confidence of the men under you ; 
that lives of men, the winning or losing of battles, 
yes, and the welfare of the nation, depend on your 
leadership. Are you qualified to look Uncle Sam 
in the face and tell him, and then prove to him, that 
you are the man he needs in this crisis? If you 
believe this, go to it, and the best of luck to you, 
but remember it means good hard work and plenty 
of "guts" behind it, as the old soldier says. 

In no way am I qualified to criticize you, and I 
do not mean to do so; these next chapters are 
written for the purpose of giving the civilian and 
the draft man the benefit of a few tips and pointers, 
that I myself have picked up in six years' service in 




VITH STAR 



CROSS OF WAR 
- FRANCE- WITH PALMS 



MILITARY MEDAL ORDER of St.GEORGE 
WAR0F1914-FRANCE RUSSIA 




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ORDERofLEOPOLD-ALBERTI 

BELGIUM 



ORDER oftheCROWN 
OF ITALY 





LITARY ORDER OF 

WO Y- ITALY 



ORDER oftheGOLOEN KITE 
JAPAN 



ORDER of THElOWERSf 
SWORD- PORTUGAL 




MILITARY MEDAL 
REVERSE - ENGLAND- obverse 



ORDER OFTHEIRON CROWN 

AUSTRIA 




ORDER ofTAKOV/A 
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ORDER OF MERIl 
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ORDER OF DANILO I 
MONTENEGRO 




ORDER OF THE CROWN 
SIAM 



orderoftheDouble dragon 

CHINA 



The Honor of Khaki 35 

the regular United States Army, seven years in the 

National Guard, and over a year in the English 

Army, in the trenches on the Western Front, 

until discharged on account of wounds received 

in battle. 

Since the recruiting campaign started 

it has been a common sight to see men Cajnpaign 

^ Ribbons 

in uniform ; we meet them everywhere, 

at banquets, in the best hotels, in churches, on the 

streets. It is not an unusual sight nowadays to 

see privates driving high-speed motor cars or 

occupying boxes in the most select theatres. It is 

as it should be ; the uniform has come into its own. 

The best manhood of our country is wearing it, 

proud to display it in public. They have a right 

to be proud of it. 

But what about the man who wears that little 
colored ribbon on his left breast? Why does he 
wear it ? 

A friend of mine recently enlisted; he was 
in uniform, walking down Broadway with the 
girl of his choice, when a smart-looking, dapper 
soldier passed them. Across the left breast of this 
soldier's blouse could be seen three little colored 
ribbons. The young lady was greatly impressed 
and turning to her escort said: "Joe, why don't you 



36 First Call 

get some of those ribbons ; they certainly do set off 
a uniform. Please get some, will you?" 

Joe, blushing a little, informed her that next day 
he would stop in and get some from his military 
outfitters. She was satisfied and Joe was highly 
amused. 

Those little ribbons on a soldier denote that he 
has been through campaigns, has been under 
fire, and perhaps has won a medal for personal 
bravery. 

If you see a soldier wearing a little light blue 
strip decorated with white stars, go up to him 
and shake his hand, because he has won the 
greatly coveted Medal of Honor of the United 
States. 

A white and red strip means that the wearer has 
served in the Philippine Insurrection. A strip of 
two bands of blue and gray denotes service in the 
Civil War. Two strips of blue separated by yel- 
low shows service in the Spanish American War. 
Red, yellow; blue, yellow; and red, bordered with 
blue, means service in the Cuban Occupation. 
The ribbon of yellow edged with blue denotes 
service in China, during the Boxer Rebellion. 

Sammy, there will be many different medals of 
honor and campaign badges issued for bravery and 




LEGION OF HONOR 
FRANCE 



ZDAL OF HONOR 

O STATES OF AMERICA 




a to Soldiers of English 
tny who have received 
unds under fire and have 
en discharged as physi- 
ly unfit. 




DISTINGUISHED SERVICE ORDL 
ENGLISH 



Military Decorations. 




ORDER or MEDJIDIE 
TURKISH 




THE IRON CROSS 




ORDER OF THE BLACK EAGLE 
GERMAN 



The Honor of Khaki 37 

service in this war so go to it and get some. After 
the war is over don't have your girl tell you to buy 
some, because they cannot be bought with money, 
— bravery and patriotism is their price. 



CHAPTER V 

** you're in the army now" 
Old Song 

A/'OU are to be one of a million men, a tiny cog 

^ in a great machine, yet you still have your 

individuality, so upon enlistment, or a couple of 

days later, the government will issue to you an 

identification disc. This will be round, about the 

size of a half-dollar, made either of 

.. ®^. ^^" red fibre or alimiinium. There is a 
tion Discs 

little hole in the disc through which 
a piece of tape is passed. The disc is worn 
around the neck by means of the tape, under- 
neath your uniform. Stenciled on one side of the 
disc appears yoiu* rank, name (perhaps company 
number), and regiment. These discs are used for 
the purpose of identification in case you are killed 
or wounded. 

The "Tommy" in the English Army, before 
leaving for France, either made or bought an 

38 



••You're in the Army Now" 39 

additional disc to be worn around the wrist by 
means of a chain and snap hook. This disc 
was of metal, oval-shaped, and had the same 
stenciled information as the one issued by the 
government. 

^ N*'5203 
Machine Gun Cor 
167 Brigade 



ENGLISH roENTIFICATION DISC 



Sometimes while in the trenches identification 
discs become lost either through accident or care- 
lessness, so it is a good idea to provide yourself 
with the extra one to be worn around the wrist. 
Many times, either while behind the lines, or in the 
trenches, especially when your regiment has taken 
over a new and strange section, you are stopped 
by military police or officers. They ask you to 
show your disc to prove your identity. Perhaps 
you are in heavy marching order, — if so, it is a 
case of stop, drop a lot of your equipment, un- 
button your blouse, and show the disc worn around 



40 First Call 

the neck. If you have one on your wrist it saves 
all this trouble. 

A good idea is to stencil on the opposite side of 
the disc worn around the wrist, the name and ad- 
dress of the person whom you wish to be notified 
if you are killed or wounded. 

Sammy, no doubt you wish to appear ' 'up to date' ' 

in the eyes of our Allies when you land in France, — 

therefore get this additional disc and it will help 

produce this effect. 

The first and paramount thing for a 

Khaki the recruit to learn upon enlistment, is 
Leveller ^ 

that the uniform is a great leveller. 

It places the millionaire, the coal heaver, the 
highbrow, the ''rough neck," the learned and the 
ignorant on the same plane. They receive the 
same pay, allowances, equipment, and treatment 
until, after a time, superior qualities assert them- 
selves and the possessor of these rises to his 
proper level or rank. In no institution in the 
world is merit recognized and appreciated more 
than in the army and just promotion quickly 
follows. 

When a recruit takes the oath of allegiance he 
starts on a new life, and an impassable chasm 
yawns between the old and the new. It is not 



** You're in the Army Now'* 41 

what he has already accomplished that mat- 
ters, — it is what he will accomplish in the 
future. 

The race is open to all and every man starts from 
scratch, with fair and just judges along the track, 
clocking him as he passes the different training 
periods. 

The success, efficiency, and force of an army are 
due to one thing : 

Discipline 

To a recruit discipline is a nasty medicine and 
seems unnecessary. To an old soldier it is a 
nectar of the gods and indispensable. 

And remember that at one time the old soldier 
was a recruit. Do not forget this. He went 
through the trials and tribulations that you are 
now enduring. 

Do not grumble, growl, or grouse. 

Be cheerful, even if it hurts you. 

Do not knock the army, your officers, or non- 
commissioned officers. It will get you nothing 
but trouble. An officer or "non-com" will gen- 
erally go out of his way to "rub it into" a sullen 
recruit. It is one of the indoor sports of the army. 



42 First Call 

Do not try to curry favor with the 
man over you by trying to bribe him 
into showing you more consideration than the 
rest. You are only entitled to the same treat- 
ment as the other recruits. The man you try 
to bribe has the utmost contempt for you, and if 
he accepts the bribe you have nothing but con- 
tempt for him. Even though he shows you more 
consideration, it makes your road harder, because 
the rest of the "non-coms" and men soon **get 
wise" to what is going on, and they will take 
especial pains to make your road a rocky one. 
And they can do it. 

Keep the good opinion of your officers, "non- 
coms," and mates and you soon will learn with 
pleasure and surprise how easy and enjoyable 
army life really is. 

Perform willingly every duty and fatigue for 
which you are detailed. Take care of your own 
rifle and equipment ; do not hire one of your mates 
to do it. He is not your servant, — he is your com- 
rade. By hiring him you demonstrate to the rest 
of your outfit that you are a lazy and incompetent 
soldier. When you enter the army the dollar 
mark loses its value. 

A recruit who tries to buy his way or hangs 



••You're in the Army Now*' 43 

around an officer or ''non-com, " waiting to do his 
bidding, toadying to him, is known as a "hand- 
shaker." In the army a ''handshaker" ranks 
lower than a worm and is respected accordingly. 
If you must curry favor with somebody, get in 
with the cook ! — it will help you later on. 

Never borrow or loan your rifle, equipment, or 
uniform. It is also bad policy to borrow money 
from your mates, — they draw no more than you. 
Use your own judgment in lending money and 
personal belongings. Do not be a '' tight-wad,'" — be 
human ; then, too, sometime you may want some- 
thing, and want it badly, and you won't get it. 

Treat all of your mates with respect, because 
that is fair, and, moreover, before this war is over, 
your life may depend upon the help of the most 
despised man in the battery, troop, or company. 

Join no clique or "gang" in your outfit, because 
sooner or later it will "bust up," and the rest of 
the outfit will be the clique and you will be a rank 
outsider. 

Keep off the sick report; do not try to dodge 
drills, fatigues, etc., by hiding behind the skirts of 
the doctor unless you are really ill. Remember 
sick call is not mess call. 

If a man is foolish enough to disregard aU army 



44 First Call 

regulations and contracts a venereal disease, he 
must not treat it himself but should go on sick 
report immediately. 

As soon as possible, buy a set of drill regulations 
and study them ; it will help you wonderfully, but 
after reading a few pages, do not start criticizing 
your officers and ''non-coms," — they have for- 
gotten more than you know about the army. 

„ . After being sworn in, your uniform 

Equipment ^ "^ 

and equipment will be issued. Sign 
for it ; carefully checking your equipment as listed 
on the sheet you sign, — generally the two don't 
jibe and the mistake is not in favor of the recruit. 
Some quartermaster sergeants have a way of mak- 
ing errors when dealing with recruits. If you sign 
without reading, and, later on, one or two articles 
are missing, don't worry, — you will ''find them on 
the pay roll" — that is, they will be issued to you 
and the price of same will be deducted from your 
next pay. 

Try on your uniform when it is issued to you, 
and see that it fits; don't let the sergeant hand 
you a 6^ hat when you wear a 7^2, or vice versa. 
Remember a blouse is not an overcoat. 

Immediately after drawing equipment, mark it 
with your battery, troop, or company number, — 



••You're in the Army Now*' 45 

each man is given a number. Stencils are pro- 
vided for this purpose. Look with suspicion on 
the old soldier who volunteers to help you mark 
your equipment. Y/atch him closely, because he 
is liable (by mistake, of course) to mark some of 
your belongings with his number, and later on, 
when he claims them, the evidence is there and 
cannot be disputed. 

After being outfitted, go to the regimental 
tailor. For a couple of dollars he will alter your 
uniform so that it fits, and you won't look like 
a sack of oats with a belt around the middle. Al- 
ways be neat and clean. If your captain sees that 
you are a smart-looking recruit, he immediately 
says to himself, "I'll keep my eye on that man, 
we need 'non-coms.'" 

Learn how to salute properly and ^ .^ ^ 

^ . Guide Posts 

smartly. Do not neglect this. Al- 
ways salute officers in a soldierly manner. You 
are not belittling yourself — it is simply military 
courtesy and discipline. Remember that the 
officer must also return the salute, but if he 
sometimes fails to do so, do not remind him of 
the fact. 

Nothing advances a soldier so quickly as proper 
military courtesy. An officer is quick to notice 



46 First Call 

a smart salute, and good will result to you from 
this notice. 

Never tell a "non-com," no matter how small he 
may be, that if it weren't for his "stripes" you 
would ''beat him up." Generally this statement 
lands you in the guardhouse, and then, too, the 
"non-com" may take off his blouse and "wallop 
the daylights out of you" — before he puts you in 
the guardhouse. 

Always get up at "First Call" in the morning, — 
don't wait for the march, or "Reveille," or you'll 
be late for the roll call and this means extra fatigue 
and after repeated offenses, a coiut-martial. 

A few more tips before this chapter is closed : 

Do not be afraid to ask questions. If possible, 
ask a "non-com." It is best. If a non-commis- 
sioned officer is not at hand, ask two old soldiers, 
and then weigh their answers, — if they jibe, you 
are generally safe from doing something ridiculous. 
Do not pester a "non-com" with a lot of silly or use- 
less questions or he will get sore at you. 

In each company, there is a bulletin board. 
Look at this three or four times a day to see if 
your name is posted for any specific duty, detail, or 
fatigue. Men are not notified individually, and ig- 
norance of a detail is not accepted as a valid excuse. 



'•You're in the Army Now'* 47 

Always ascertain from the orders posted what 
uniform, arms, etc., are required for the next drill 
or formation and get your equipment ready in 
advance. 

Learn the list of bugle calls, their time and 
meaning, as soon as possible. It will help you 
wonderfully. (See Chapter VII.) 



CHAPTER VI 

OLD SOLDIER AND ROOKIE 

HTHE following are a few tricks played on re- 
cruits, so remember and avoid them, but 
if you get stuck on one which is not mentioned 
here, don't get ''sore," — laugh it off and lay for 
some recruit who is not '' wise." 

A "non-com" or old soldier, perhaps twenty 
minutes before drill call, will rush up to you and 
in an excited manner ask if you will do him a favor. 
In your eyes an old soldier is something wonderful, 
and you will be very Trilling to accommodate him. 
Then he hands you this : "Rim over to the quarter- 
master sergeant of 'D' company and get me the 
* ke3' to the parade groimd ' ; it's nearly drill time 

and some d d fool locked it last night. The 

captain is in a terrible sweat." If you fall for 
this the quartermaster sergeant in "D" company 
will say he is sony^ but the key is in the orderiy 
room of "]M" company. At the orderiy room, 

48 



Old Soldier and Rookie 49 

you are told to go to the sergeant of the guard. 
After looping the loop around the camp several 
times, if you do not "get" wise to the game, you 
generally land before the adjutant. On leav- 
ing the adjutant, your face is a brick-red color, 
and with murder in your heart you feel like crawl- 
ing into some hole away from eveiyone for dura- 
tion of the war. Just remember that in the army 
they do not lock up parade grounds at night. 

Do not accommodate any one bv „ 

^ ' "Old Stuff" 

going after a "pint of Reveille oil." 

You will never get it. 

Another foolish errand is trying to borrow 
from the next company "about ten yards of 
skirmish line." Skirmish lines do not come in 
yards. 

When requested, never Xxy to wind the "wind 
clock" on the target range. These clocks refuse 
to wind. 

Never go to the quartennaster sergeant to 
exchange your hat cord for a 6-7/8 one. They 
don't come in sizes, and if he happens to be 
busy, he will let out a little "religion" in your 
direction. 

The most popular form of amusement to be 
avoided by a recruit is "snipe hunting." 
4 



50 First Call 

This hunting party is generally scientifically 
worked up to by the older men in this manner: 

A couple of old soldiers will saunter 

H ^^ " ^^^^ ^ ^^^^ ^^ squad-room occupied 
by recruits, and, apparently oblivious 
to the fact that others are around, will whisper, 
just loud enough for the recruits to hear, this 
interesting dialogue: 

"Jim, do you know that snipe are running? 
Last night I scared up more than a dozen." 

Jim gets very excited and whispers: 

"On the level. Bill, did you actually see them?*' 

Bill: "Of course I didn't see them, but I heard 
them. Don't you suppose I know a snipe when 
I hear it? I tell you there's hundreds of them 
about.** 

Jim: "Let*s go hunting to-night.** 

Bill: "Not so loud, do you want everybody 
to get wise, and spoil it?" 

By this time the recruits within hearing are 
eagerly sucking in every word. 

Jim: "That's it; the last hunt was spoiled 
because the whole company got on to it. We 
only had about half a snipe per man. And believe 
me, I can eat a half-dozen alone!" 

Bill: "Well if we can get about six men beside 



Old Soldier and Rookie 51 

ourselves to help out, we ought to have a good 
find to-night. Of course, we have let the two cooks 
in on the game, so they can fix up the spread. Just 
like those two guys; they get all the cream and 
none of the work!" 

Jim: "Yes, but if you get some of the company 
men to go, they'll ring in their bunkies and it'll 
be like the last hunt, — not enough snipe to go 
around." 

Bill in a lower whisper, but perfectly audible : 

"Jim, do you know I've half a mind to take some 
of the new men along; they might not be experts 
at snipe hunting, but they know enough to keep 
their mouths shut — let's go over to No. 2 Platoon 
and ask some of them." 

By this time the recruits have made up their 
minds; they are all aglow with enthusiasm; they 
are going to be the invited ones on that hunt if 
they can possibly manage it. Generally one re- 
cruit butts into the conversation with an excited 
and eager voice : 

"Say, I'll go!" 

This is immediately followed by a chorus of 
"So will I!" 

Jim turns around in assumed anger and disgust, 
ejaculating : 



52 First Call 

"Good-night! It's all off now. The cat's out 
of the bag, just the same as last time/' 

But Bill interposes: 

"Why not take them, Jim? There's only six, 
and we can tell them what to do." 

The recruits immediately look upon Bill as 
their champion and each one just loves him. 

After a little argument Jim agrees. The re- 
cruits are sworn to strict secrecy, with orders to 
report, after lights out, to the cook-shack. The 
party breaks up. Bill and Jim leave to have a 
quiet little laugh, while the recruits in undertones, 
constantly looking around to see that no one is 
in hearing, excitedly discuss the pleasures in store 
for them that night. 

All that day they make constant mysterious 
signs to each other and look with contempt on 
the other recruits. 

At last the long-looked-for "Tattoo" is sounded 
by the trumpeter and the camp is in darkness. 

They silently sneak out and report to the cook- 
shack for instructions. Sure enough, Jim, Bill, 
and the two cooks are on the job. Then the plan 
of campaign is laid out. While the recruits are 
listening to instructions, sundry little snickers can 
be heard in the darkness around them, but the 





i 


w. 


^R^^^^^^^^l 


'^'J^h 


^i^ ^^^^1 


1 


P^^^^^^B 



5^!^': 



The Author Serving in Texas with nth U. S. Cavalry, 191: 





©u. &u. 

National Guardsmen Wearing Complete Outfit. 



Old Soldier and Rookie 53 

snipe hunters don't "get wise" to the fact that all 
of the old men ''are on" and are lying around the 
cook-shack, taking in everything. 

This is the way the "snipe hunt" is conducted: 

Four of the recruits are detailed as "beaters." 
They are to go about a mile down the road and 
start "beating" from a well-known object, — gen- 
erally a bridge or a bam. Each man has been 
instructed to carry a watch. Exactly at 10 o'clock 
the "beaters" must start "beating" the fields 
on each side of the road, with sticks, while walking 
toward the camp. The other two are "bag men." 
They have oat sacks, which are placed on the sides 
of the road, near an opening in the fence. The 
mouth of the sack is held open by an upright 
stick. The two "bag men" are placed out of 
hearing of each other. (It's safer for the success 
of the scheme.) 

Then each "bag man" is told to lie down about 
ten feet behind the sack. He is given two stones 
which he must constantly hit together. This is 
in imitation of the cry of the male snipe, while 
occasionally they must "cheep -cheep'* to imitate 
the female. 

The "beaters'* drive the snipe ahead of them, 
and by "cheep-cheeping" and clicking the stones 



54 First Call 

together, the ''bag men" entice the snipe into the 
bags. The two old men and the cooks say they 
will "beat it" from the other end of the road and 
leave. They "beat it" for their hunks and have 
a good laugh, and, what's more important, a sleep. 

The "beaters" and "bag men" have been in- 
structed not to give up the hunt until they are 
told to do so by the old soldiers. 

About three o'clock in the morning the recruits 
"get wise," and, tired out and drenched with dew, 
sneak into their respective bunks. 

Next day the "snipe hunt" is known all over 

the regiment and the recruits feel like deserting. 

If you are in the cavalry keep your 

" The Saber weather eye open for the ' ' saber ghost " 
Ghost" . , ^ . . , ... 

tnck. it is engineered as follows : 

In barracks, the saber is loosely strapped to the 

foot of the trooper's bunk or bed. A long piece of 

black thread is tied to the end of the saber scabbard 

and passed around one of the legs of the bunk, while 

the other end is tied around the finger of some old 

soldier several bunks down the squad-room. This 

is done after ''Lights out" or "Tattoo" has sounded. 

The squad-room is dark. Pretty soon the victim 

comes tip-toeing in, undresses quietly and jumps 

into bed. After a few minutes, when the old soldier 



Old Soldier and Rookie 55 

thinks the recruit is about to doze off, he gives 
a gentle tug to the thread and the saber rattles in 
an uncanny manner. The recruit listens atten- 
tively, — ^pretty soon another rattle. Generally the 
recruit sits up in bed and stares in the direc- 
tion of the noise. Rattle! He is now nervous; 
he gets up and investigates, but does not see the 
black thread in the darkness. He is convinced 
that he was mistaken and turns in again. An- 
other rattle! Sits up again and is frightened. A 
few more rattles are generally followed by a scream 
or a mad stampede out of the squad-room. Then 
a roar of laughter from nearly every bunk and 
Mr. Recruit returns to his bunk thoroughly 
ashamed and crestfallen. 

If an old soldier insists on saddling your horse 
for drill, mistrust him, especially if you are riding 
a ** goosey" horse because he is liable to put a 
burr or small pebble under your saddle blanket, 
which usually results in the recruit landing ''some- 
where in the corral" while Mr. Horse takes up 
the gallop for parts unknown. 

Be careful when returning to yotir bunk, after 
lights out, because there is a trick of stretching 
a lariat about six inches from the floor, one end 
tied around the gun rack and the other to a bunk 



56 First Call 

leg. This means a nasty fall and a loud noise, 

waking the occupants of the squad-room, — then 

a volley of curses and boots. It generally ends 

in a fight. 

Look out for the "French bed" 
Other Snares 

stunt. This consists in doubling the 

top sheet. The recruit lifts the covers, holding 
the end of the sheet in both hands and. is surprised 
to find that he cannot stretch out his legs. It 
means making over your bed in the dark, waking 
the man on your right and left and submitting to 
a tirade of impertinent remarks, all about your 
intelligence. 

If you have a habit of sleeping tmtil ''Reveille," 
watch out for the shoe trick. This consists in 
stuffing your socks into the toes of your shoes. 
You jump up in a hurry to make roll call, — your 
socks are missing. After a fruitless search in 
which precious seconds are wasted, you decide to 
go sockless and try to put on your boots but 
your feet won't go in. After you fish out the 
socks, "Assembly" sounds and you have missed 
"Reveille," which results in an extra fatigue. 

At II P.M., or a minute or two before "Taps," 
the "non-com" in charge of quarters takes "check" 
— that is he examines the squad-room to see if 



Old Soldier and Rookie 57 

all men not on guard or pass are in bed. Perhaps 
the man next j^ou wants to beat this inspection. 
He changes bunk tags, putting his tag on your 
bed and yours on his. The "non-com" comes to 
his bed, and notes the name on the tag {your 
name) and next morning you are haled into the 
orderly room to explain why you were absent from 
"11 P.M. inspection." It takes a lot of convincing 
on your part to get out of the mess, because before 
you get up in the morning the real offender has 
returned and again changed the bunk tags. 

Sometimes to beat ''check," soldiers put dum- 
mies in their beds and ''get away" with it, but if 
caught, the consequences are serious. Don't get 
caught. The safer way is to stand "check." 

There are many more snares laid for unsuspect- 
ing recruits, but the ones above mentioned are 
generally used. 

If anyone wants you to do something that 
sounds "off color" just teU him that you are sorry 
but you're busy, that he had better ask Smith or 
Jones to do it. He will immediately tumble to 
the fact that you smell a rat and will leave in 
quest for one who will swallow his bait. 



CHAPTER VII 

WATCH YOUR STEP 

T AM not a preacher and do not intend to 
preach, but here is a small, but valuable 
friendly tip: — 

Do Not Gamble 

There is a certain element in a company, which 
looks upon the successful and no doubt crooked 
gambler (because a gambler cannot always be 
successful without being crooked) with respect, 
awe, and admiration. They ape him, toady to 
him, and feel proud to be seen in his company. 
Then they try to follow in his footsteps, with 
disastrous results to themselves. 

The self-respecting element — the part that 
counts in an outfit — ^looks down on him in disdain 
or with a feeling of contempt and pity. 

Remember ''easy come, easy go." There never 
yet has been a successful gambler in the army 

58 



Watch Your Step 59 

who made his mark, — he is always in trouble; 
the officers despise him, and his army career 
generally ends suddenly by his being "bobtailed" 
or kicked out in disgrace. 

The draftman with no experience in 
gambling who enters a concentration 
or training camp is liable to be the prey of the 
"army shark." Many snares are laid for him 
and he must be pretty wise to avoid them all. 

Avoid crap games, — you can never tell when 
loaded, shaped, or ''tops and bottoms" dice are 
being rung into the game by these sharks. 

Another trick of theirs is to persuade the victim 
to shoot craps on a blanket, army cot, or bunk, 
because on these soft smooth surfaces dice can 
be thrown so that only four sides will touch the 
blanket. In this system the shark uses the fol- 
lowing combination: Starting his shoot, ne picks 
up the dice with a six and an ace together, or two 
aces, or two sixes touching. He then (as you think) 
shakes the dice, but the rattle you hear is caused 
by one dice being firmly held in his hand while 
the other dice rattles against this stationary one 
without losing the combination. Then he rolls 
the dice over his finger tips on to the blanket. 
The dice appear to be rolling properly, but in fact 



6o First Call 

they do not turn inward and outward, but just 
revolve in the same direction and preserve the 
combination. 

Using this combination on the first throw, it is 
impossible to throw a crap, that is two aces, an 
ace or deuce, or two sixes. 

After the shark has a point of six or eight, in his 
roll he places an ace and deuce together or an 
ace and five. This gives him the advantage of 
a great percentage in making his point. 

If his point is nine or five he places an ace and 
four together. 

If his point be ten or four he places an ace and 
trey together. 

By placing deuce and five together it is impos- 
sible to make a nine or five. So when the shooter 
has nine or five for his point, his confederate in 
the game offers big odds that he cannot make it, 
and usually someone falls for this bet because the 
shooter is lucky (as he thinks) having made many 
passes on this shoot. The outsider loses. 

Never shoot where newspapers or canvas are 
spread on a flat smooth surface because these 
sharks can spin their dice, and ninety times out 
of a hundred are able to throw any combination 
on the dice they desire. 



Watch Your Step 6i 

Think over the foregoing carefully. What 
chance do you stand to win? Absolutely none. 
Send your money home where it will do the most 
good. The old folks need it, or, if they don't, 
they will save it for you. 

If you gamble and lose, don't borrow money 
with the hope that your luck will change next 
time and square matters. It will change all right, 
change for even worse, and you will find yourself 
in a deep hole. Instead of sending money home, 
no doubt in desperation you will think out somie 
plausible lie and write home for money, and that 
will foUow the other losses. 

A self-respecting soldier has no use for a 
man . who is always down and out through 
gambling. 

Look out for the **imder, over, and even" game. 
The banker has the greater percentage and if you 
buck this game, in the long run your are sure to 
go broke. 

In poker, full houses, in some games, have a 
habit of bobbing up against your flush, and the 
holder of the full house doesn't always get it by 
luck. He has also a system. Remember friend- 
ship ceases in love — and a poker game. 

Refuse to take chances on a raffle unless it is 



62 First Call 

for a worthy cause. Raffles are the pest of the 
army. 

If you put the time you waste in gambling into 
reading and studying the drill regulations, you 
will be surprised how quickly you will get your 
'* stripes'* (promotion). 



CHAPTER VIII 

BUGLE CALLS AND RATIONS 

nPHE new recruit has gotten down to business 

•■' and is studying hard. One of the first things 

to tackle is the list of army bugle-calls, so they 

are given below with their various meanings. 

First Call. — Sounded early in the 

. , , , , , Bugle CaUs 

mommg by the trumpeter of the guard, 

generally from ten to fifteen minutes before gun- 
fire. It is to awake the camp and warn the men 
to get ready for reveille. It is also used as a warn- 
ing call before a parade or inspection. 

Gunfire. — In military posts there is a saluting 
gun. At a designated time after "First Call," the 
colors are raised to the top of the flagstaff. The 
company buglers and the band have assembled. 
They play a march, on the first note of which the 
gun is fired, saluting the flag as it ascends the 
flagstaff. 

63 



64 First Call 

Reveille. — ^Wams the men to fall in for reveille 
roll call. 

Assembly. — Sounded a few minutes after reveille, 
this means that every man must be in ranks. 
Used after a warning call for a formation or drill, 
it means **fall in." It is also used to assemble 
scattered troops or units; these troops or units 
must proceed without loss of time to the point 
from which the call is sounded. 

Fire. — A warning call for troops to fall in, un- 
armed but prepared for fighting fire in a post or 
camp. Standing regulations or orders covering 
the duties for each unit in case of fire are issued 
by the Commanding Officer. 

To Arms. — A warning call for troops to fall in 
immediately, under arms at designated points. 
Only the sick, and prisoners with their guards, are 
excused from this call. 

To Horse. — A warning call used in mounted 
organizations for troops to assemble under arms, 
saddle and mount up. 

Retreat. — A long bugle call sounded at sundown 
at the lowering of the colors. In posts, on the 
last note of this call, the gun is fired and the band 
starts playing the Star Spangled Banner or the 
trumpeters sound *'To the Colors." 



Bugle Calls and Rations 65 

Tattoo. — Sounded in an army camp or post, 
it means that lights must be extinguished in 
sleeping quarters and quiet maintained. It is 
generally sounded at 9 o'clock at night. 

Call to Quarters. — ^Warns all troops not on pass 
or duty, to repair to their quarters ; in army posts 
it is generally sounded at 10.45 p.m. 

Taps. — Bugle call warning troops to extinguish 
all lights and to turn in. It means the day's work 
is ended. It is also sounded at the funeral of a 
soldier, and is conceded to be the most beautiful 
and sentimental call in the Army. 

Mess. — Bugle call warning troops that it is 
time to eat. 

Sick. — Summons troops who have reported 
*'sick" to repair to the hospital, there to be passed 
upon by the Medical Officer. 

Church. — Bugle call warning troops that divine 
service is about to take place. 

Recall. — Notifies troops that drills, parades, 
formations, fatigues, etc., are ended. When 
sounded between a warning call and assembly it 
means that that particular drill or formation is 
not to be held. Also used to terminate sham 
battles, maneuvers, etc. 

Issue. — Announces that the Quartermaster is 



66 First Call 

ready to issue rations, clothing, small stores, 
etc. 

Officers' Call. — Bugle call for officers to report 
immediately to Headquarters. 

Captains' Call. — Bugle call for Captains to 
report to Headquarters. 

First Sergeants' Call. — Orders First Sergeants to 
report to Headquarters; sounded daily, generally 
at 11.30 A.M. 

Fatigue. — Troops must commence whatever 
fatigue or work they have been detailed to do. 

School. — Warns troops that it is time to report 
for school. 

Commence Firing. — Bugle call, used generally on 
target ranges during rifle firing practice, ordering 
troops to commence firing. The firing can com- 
mence on the first note of the call. 

Cease Firing. — Troops must cease firing; all 
firing must cease on the last note of the call. 

Adjutant's Call. — Bugle call warning squadrons, 
battalions or guard details to form. 

To the Color. — Blown when the color salutes or 
is being lowered at sunset. 

Guard Mounting. — The warning call, blown 
about fifteen minutes before the guard is mounted, 
ordering the men detailed for guard to get ready 



Bugle Calls and Rations 67 

and to fall in on their respective parades, in 
charge of the First Sergeant at the place of guard 
mount. 

Full Dress. — The warning call blown before 
a ceremony or parade, informing the troops 
that the full-dress uniform will be worn at this 
formation. 

Overcoats. — ^A call to warn troops that overcoats 
will be worn at the next formation, — usually drill 
or guard mounting. Ample time is given between 
"Overcoats" and "Assembly" to enable the men 
to put on their overcoats. 

Drill Call. — Warns troops to prepare for drill. 

Stable. — ^A bugle call mostly used in mounted 
organizations, ordering the men to water, groom, 
and feed their horses. 

Water. — Commonly used in mounted organiza- 
tions, announcing that it is time to water the 
horses. 

Boots and Saddles. — Means "saddle up"; or 
sounded after a warning call signifies that the 
formation is to be mounted. 

The General. — A bugle call blown for the break- 
ing up of camp. Upon the first note, troops must 
unloosen guy ropes and tents in such a manner 
that upon the sounding of the last note the tents 



68 



First Call 



Eats' 



will come down, all falling in the same direction. 

Attention. — ^A bugle call to troops in ranks which 
means "Come to the position of 'Attention/ " or, 
if out of ranks, to fix the attention in the direction 
from which the call sounded. 

What he eats is of interest not only 
to the rookie but to the folks at home. 
His diet is sufficiently varied and highly nutri- 
tious. If you don't believe it, glance over this 
list of his rations. 

A ration is the allowance for the subsistence of 
one person for one day. 

The garrison ration is intended for troops in 
garrison, and, in time of peace, for troops in 
maneuver camps. 



COMPONENT ARTICLES AND 
QUANTITIES. 
In Garrison 



Beef, fresli 20 ounces - 



SUBSTITUTIVE ARTICLES AND 
QUANTITIES. 

Mutton fresh 20 ounces 

Bacon* 12 ounces 

Canned meat, when 
impracticable to 
furnish fresh meat 16 ounces 
Hash, corned beef, 
when impracti- 
cable to furnish 

fresh meat 16 ounces 

Fish, dried 14 ounces 

Fish, pickled 18 ounces 

Fish, canned 16 ounces 

Turkey, dressed 
drawn on Thanks- 
giving Day and 
Christmas, when 
practicable 16 ounces 



Bugle Calls and Rations 



69 



COMPONENT ARTICLES AND 
QUANTITIES 
In Garrison 



Flour 18 ounces 



Baking powder. . . . 0.08 ounce 
Beans 2.4 ounces ■] 



SUBSTITUTIVE ARTICLES AND 
QUANTITIES. 

Soft bread 18 ounces 

Hard bread, to be 

ordered issued onljr 

when the interests 

of the government 

so require 16 ounces 

Corn meal 20 ounces 



Potatoes 20 ounces 



Rice 1 .6 ounces 

Hominy 1.6 ounces 

Potatoes, canned*.. . . 15 ounces 

Onions in lieu of an 
equal quantity of 
potatoes, but not 
exceeding 20 per 
cent, of total issue. 

Tomatoes, canned, 
in lieu of an equal 
quantity of pota- 
toes, but not ex- 
ceeding 20 per cent, 
of total issue. 

Other fresh vegeta- 
bles (not canned)* 
when they can be 
obtained in the 
vicinity or trans- 
ported in a whole- 
some condition 
from a distance, in 
lieu of an equal 
quantity of pota- 
toes, but not ex- 
ceeding 30 per cent, 
of total issue 



♦ In Alaska, 16 ounces bacon, or, when desired, 16 ounces 
salt pork, or 22 ounces salt beef. 

18 ounces canned potatoes instead of 15. 
24 ounces fresh vegetables instead of 20. 



70 



First Call 



COMPONENT ARTICLES AND 
QUANTITIES. 

In GafrisoD 



Pnmea...^ 1.28 ounces - 



Coffee 1. 12 ounces 



SUBSTITUTIVE ARTICLES AND 
QUANTITIES. 

Apples, dried or eva- 
porated 1.28 ounces 

Peaches, dried or 

evaporated 1.28 ounces 

Jam, in lieu of equal 
quantity of prunes 
but not exceeding 
50 per cent, of 
total issue. 

Coffee, roasted not 

ground 1. 12 ounces 

Coffee, green 1.4 ounces 

Tea, black or green.. . ,0.32 ounce 



Sugar 3.2 ounces 

MUk, evaporated 

unsweetened .... 0.5 ounce 



' Pickles, cucumber, in 
lieu of an equal 
quantity of vinegar 
but not exceeding 
50 per cent, of total 
issue. 



Vinegar 0.16 gill 

Salt 0.64 ounce 

Pepper, black 0.04 ounce 

( Cloves 0.014 ounce 

Cinnamoa 0.014 ounce •< Ginger 0.014 ounce 

( Nutmeg 0.014 ounce 

Lard 0.64 ounce Lard substitute 0.64 ounce 

Butter 0.5 ounce Oleomargarine 0.5 ounce 



Bugle Calls and Rations 71 

COMPONENT ARTICLES AND SUBSTITUTIVE ARTICLBS AND 

QUANTITIES. QUANTITIES. 

In Garrisom 

Sirup 0.32 gill 

Flavoring extract, 

lemon 0.014 ounce Vanilla 0.014 ounce 

Note: Food for troops travelling on United States Army 
transports will be prepared from the articles of substitute stores, 
which compose the ration for troops in garrison, varied by the 
substitution of other articles of authorized subsistence stores, 
the total daily cost per man of the food consumed not to exceed 
20 per cent, more than the current cost of the garrison ration, 
except on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas when 60 per cent, 
increase over the same current cost is authorized. 

The travel ration is for troops travelling other- 
wise than by marching and separated from cooking 
facilities. 

Travel Rations 

COMPONENT ARTICLES AND SUBSTITUTIVE ARTICLBS AND 

QUANTITIES. QUANTITIES. 

Soft bread 18 ounces Hard bread 16 ounces 

Beef, corned 12 ounces Hash, corned beef. . . 12 ounces 

Beans, baked 4 ounces 

Tomatoes, canned . 8 ounces 

Jam 1.4 ounces 

Coffee, roasted and 

ground 1.12 ounces 

Sugar 2.4 ounces 

Milk, evaporated, 

unsweetened 0.5 ounce 

The reserve ration is carried on the persons of the 
men and in the trains and constitutes the reserve 
for field service. 



72 




First Call 








Reserve 












Ration 












COMPONENT ARTICLES AND SUBSTITUTIVE 


ARTICLES 


AND 




QUANTITIES. 




QUANTITIES. 





Bacon 12 ounces 

or meat canned.. 16 ounces 

Hard bread 16 ounces 

Coffee, roasted and 

ground 1.12 ounces 

Sugar 2.4 ounces 

Salt 0.16 ounce 



The field ration is the ration pre- 
Field Ration ^ 

scribed in orders, by the commander of 

the field forces. It consists of the reserve ration 
in whole or in part, supplemented by articles of 
food requisitioned, purchased locally, or shipped 
from the rear, provided such supplements or 
substitutes correspond generally with the com- 
ponent articles or substitutive equivalents of the 
garrison ration. 

The emergency ration is furnished, 

Emergency -^^ addition to the regular ration, as 
Ration *=* 

required, for troops on active campaign 

or in the field for purposes of instruction, and will 

not be opened except by order of an officer or in 

extremity, nor used when regular rations are 

obtainable. 



CHAPTER IX 



**BARNDOOKS" AND " HIKES " 



'T^HE two most important items of a soldier's 
equipment are his rifle and shoes. Many of 
the men in our new armies never have handled a 
rifle before entering, so a brief description of the 
American Springfield rifle and the English Lee- 
Enfield rifle may prove useful. 

Although the American Springfield rifle is a 
wonderful shooting instrument, many think it is 
too delicate for trench work. When you arrive in 
France you will undoubtedly be equipped with the 
Lee-Enfield trench rifle. This is a very strong, 
handy, and useful firearm, well able to withstand 
the rough usage of the trenches. 

It is known as the United States xheAmeri- 
magazine rifle, 1903, caliber .30. Its can Spring- 
length is 43.21 + inches, weighs with- 
out the bayonet 8.69 pounds and with the bayonet 
about one pound more. It is sighted up to 2850 

73 



74 First Call 

yards, the extreme range being over 500c yards, 
that is if the rifle when fired is elevated at an 
angle of 45 degrees. The bullet has a muzzle 
velocity of 2700 feet per second and is fired by 
a charge of smokeless powder. The bullet is of 
cupro-nickel with a lead core and is pointed. 
The magazine holds five rounds and is loaded 
with a clip containing five cartridges. Your drill 
instructors will explain how to properly care for 
and clean this rifle. A few tips nevertheless may 
help out. 

After cleaning your rifle never put 
j^^® ° a cork or jam a rag into the muzzle. 

This will cause sweating in the barrel, 
resulting in rust. 

If it rains while on the march, carry the rifle 
muzzle down. After returning to barracks, billets, 
or dugouts, get a soft rag free from oil and thor- 
oughly dry the rifle, especially the bore. A rifle 
cannot be dried with an oily rag, because oil and 
water do not mix. After you have thoroughly 
dried your rifle, take an oily rag and rub every part. 
This will also save you hours of toil and plenty of 
"cussing." 

Remember red rust can easily be, and should he^ 
removed as soon as practicable, because if it is 



•*Barndooks" and "Hikes** 75 

allower* to remain it will soon turn into black rust 
which eats in and pits the metal parts, especially 
the bore, thereby causing erratic shooting. Re- 
member your rifle is your best friend and treat it as 
such. 

The Lee-Enfield Long weighs 9 
pounds 4 ounces, and is 4 feet ij^ ^^^'^"fol^ 
inches in length. With bayonet fixed, 
it measures 5 feet i J^ inches. The caliber is .303. 
There are five riflings or ' ' turns ' ' in the bore. The 
magazine holds ten rounds (two clips of cartridges, 
five cartridges to a clip). The sight is graduated 
from 200 yards to 2800 yards, with no wind gauge. 
The weight of the Lee-Enfield Short, 

without bayonet is 8 pounds 2}^ ounces ; Lee-Enfield 

Snort 
weight with bayonet fixed 9 pounds 

93^ ounces. The length without bayonet is 3 feet 

83^ inches; the length with bayonet fixed 5 feet 

1 3^ inches. The caliber is .303, rifling five turns 

in bore. The magazine contains ten rounds (2 

clips), no magazine cut off; this insures a cartridge 

in the chamber at all times. It sights 200 to 2800 

yards with no wind gauge. 

The cartridge is the same for both models. It 
is 3.05 inches in length and weighs 415 grains. 

The bullet has a round nose and is coated with 



76 First Call 

cupro-nickel, is i}^ inches in length, and ics great- 
est diameter is .311 inches; it weighs 215 grains. 

It is fired by a charge of cordite (smokeless pow- 
der) weighing 31.5 grains. The velocity of the bullet 
as it leaves the muzzle is 2050 feet per second. It 
does not possess the velocity and penetrating power 
of our Springfield bullet. 

A badl3^-shod army loses fifty per 
cent, of its efficiency. So be absolutely 
sure that your shoes fit and are comfortable. Do 
not wear shoes that are too tight and cramp the 
feet, because you will suffer on a march and will no 
doubt be required to go on sick report. You must 
also avoid a too roomy shoe, — that is, one that rubs 
and chafes, because it will be only a short time 
before your feet are blistered and you are incapaci- 
tated. Whenever shoes are issued you, they 
should be broken in immediately. Wear them 
about camp as much as possible, saving the old 
and comfortable ones for marches. It is not wise 
to try the new shoes imtil they are thoroughly 
broken in. Change off occasionally. A good 
stimt is to walk in water for a few minutes, being 
careful that the water is not more than two inches 
deep. This will make the leather pliable. Then 
walk around for an hour or so, giving the shoes a 



••Barndooks'* and •'Hikes'* 77 

chance to dry while wearing them. This w]]l 

mold the leather to fit the foot. After taking 

them off, get a little neat's-foot oil and rub the 

shoes thoroughly. Do not use the oil too freely 

because it will cause perspiring of the feet. 

Remember that all socks must be ^ , 

Socks 

made of wool. Wear the heavy sock. 
It is more comfortable, and does not wrinkle as 
easily as the lighter one. It will last longer and 
absorb perspiration freely. Also be very careful 
to change your socks as often as possible. Do not 
wear stiff or sweaty socks. 

Keep your toe nails cut. It is best 
to have them close and square. Be ^^ 

very careful in cutting the toe nails 
not to remove too much of the sides, as this will 
cause ingrowing toe nails and you will suffer in 
consequence. 

Be ver}^ careful to wash the feet every night. 
If there are no facilities for doing this, rub them 
well with a damp cloth, finishing up with a dry 
cloth. Continue this rubbing for about ten min- 
utes until the feet glow. Before going on a march 
rub the feet with whale oil or grease. Be careful 
not to use grease containing salt, as this will irri- 
tate the skin. If no grease or oil is handy, use 



78 First Call 

hard soap. It is best to rub the soap on the 
socks. 

Be very careful in opening blisters. If you do 
not know how, see a hospital corps man and he 
will do it for you, but do not go on sick report to 
have this done. It is a good idea to harden the 
feet by using foot-ease powder. Before going on 
a long hike see that your shoe laces are good and 
strong ; it is a wise precaution to carry an extra one 
with you. 

Before going on a long march do not 

rllnCS 

fill up with a heavy meal but do not 
leave the camp hungry. It is best to carry a couple 
of sandwiches with you. While marching oc- 
casionally take a bite, masticating it well. Never 
take deep draughts of water while marching or 
during rests. If you are thirsty take a little water 
in the mouth, just enough to wet the throat; keep 
it in your mouth awhile and then spit it out. Chew 
gum to allay the thirst, but do not keep a piece in 
the mouth for hours at a time, because this will 
exhaust the salivary glands and will cause crav- 
ing for water. In using gum, chew it until the 
flavor disappears, then spit it out. But do not 
use a fresh piece until the mouth again becomes 
dry. 



••Barndooks** and ••Hikes'* 79 

Be cheerful while on the march. It is a good 
plan to place singers, musicians, and jokers at the 
head of a colimm. A mouth organ is a great help. 
These optimists will start a tune and the men in 
the rest of the column will pick it up and will sing, 
joke, and be merry, and the mile posts will glide 
by unnoticed. Keep the men in good humor and 
the march will be a pleasure. Get them ' ' grouchy ' * 
and they will complain and "grouse'' during the 
whole hike. 

Never ask inhabitants the distance to a certain 
point, because you will never get correct informa- 
tion, and nothing puts a marching soldier out of 
good humor so quickly when he figures that he has 
only a mile to go, as a civilian's telling him that it 
is about five miles farther down the road. 

When you return from the march, 
even though you are tired, sore, and March 

dusty, put all of your equipment in 
order and then get busy on your bed. Make it as 
comfortable as possible. A good sleep is very 
important to the health, comfort, and staying 
ability of a soldier. You will be thankful on the 
next day's march. Pass a wakeful, cold, and damp 
night trying to sleep on a hard bed and see how 
sore and imhappy you will feel the next day. 



8o First Call 

About an hour after the march has commenced you 
will curse the army and everything connected with 
it, while in fact you should be cursing your own 
carelessness or laziness of the night previous. 



CHAPTER X 

"sentry go" and cold steel 

TTAVE you ever, on a Sunday or a holiday, 
visited an army camp or post? We will 
assume that you have. Sundays and holidays 
in the army are generally off days — that is, usually 
there^are no drills, fatigues, or parades. The sol- 
diers are allowed to amuse themselves as they see 
fit, provided they do not violate certain camp and 
post regulations that are laid down for their be- 
havior and guidance. 

What impresses you most on your visit? This 
is a hard question to answer. Everywhere you 
see soldiers ''taking it easy." There seems to be 
a lack of discipline and efficiency. In your mind 
the question arises, — what would happen right 
now this very minute, if the enemy should sud- 
denly attack? Every one seems to he playing at 
soldiering. 

How would the alarm be given? How would 
the men be assembled? 

6 8i 



82 First Call 

How would the situation be handled? 
The answer to these questions is simple. 

Have you noticed that solitary figure 

The Sentry .,, ^ . , . . , -r. 

silnoutted against the sky, with nne at 
the shoulder? He doesn't mingle with the crowd, 
nor engage in conversation with the passers-by. 
To the average observer, he is aimlessly walking 
back and forth along a well-trodden path. Every 
two hours you see a squad of men in command of 
a corporal halt a few paces from him. He faces 
outward, comes to the ''port arms," while another 
soldier in company with the corporal detaches 
himself from the squad and approaches him, he 
also coming to "port." They appear to be talk- 
ing, the corporal listening intently. After a 
minute or so, the man from the squad comes to 
"shoulder arms" and marches along the well- 
trodden path in the same manner as his prede- 
cessor, while the soldier who has been relieved 
falls in the rear of the squad. A sharp order from 
the corporal and the squad moves forward un- 
til it comes to another one of these aimlessly 
plodding figures. Your questions are answered. 
You have just witnessed the relief of a sentry 
on guard, the watchdog of an army camp, or 
post. 



••Sentry Go** and Cold Steel 83 

These men for twenty-four hours are responsible 
for the maintenance of order, discipline, and the 
safety of the f rollicking soldiers on this holiday. 
If the camp or post were to be stationed at this 
particular site for one hundred years or more, a 
blade of grass would never grow on these laid 
out paths, or posts, as they are called in the army. 
Never, unless through a grave breach of discipline, 
does a sentry leave his post unguarded. In peace 
time the rules and regulations covering breaches 
of guard duty are severe; in war time, the rules, 
regulations, and penalties are doubly severe, a 
grave breach of guard regulations of ttimes resulting 
in a sentence of death. 

When a soldier in war time is posted as a sentry, 
it entails a grave responsibility; the Hves of his 
mates and the safety of his company rest upon his 
vigilance and intelligence. It is the duty of such 
a sentry to safeguard his post, and, in case of ap- 
proaching danger, warn his comrades, even though 
by doing so he sacrifices his own life. To the 
recruit, after a few days' service, a sentry appears 
to be something wonderful, and in his heart he 
despairs of ever acquiring that high degree of 
ability and efficiency necessary to this exalted 
position. 



84 First Call 

When he mounts guard for the first 

Responsibility ^^^^' ^^ ^^^^ ^^ ^^ ^^^^ ^^^ trembling. 
All self-confidence has vanished. The 
most commonplace question from the officer or 
non-commissioned officer of the guard will elicit 
a stammering and confused reply, but after his 
twenty-four hoiu*s' tour is over^ when he has been 
relieved, and is sitting on his bunk or cot, he will 
look back at his previous fear in an altogether 
different light. The things which at that time 
seemed so important will shrink into insignificance, 
and he will look forward to his next "Sentry Go," 
not as something to be dreaded, but as a welcome 
change from the ordinary routine of the camp. 
He has learned the lesson that a soldier is at his 
best when individual responsibility is placed upon 
him. It gives him the feeling that he is no longer 
a private in the rear rank, or a mere cog in the 
army machine. He is, in fact, in command. 
The general or colonel is asleep. There, in the 
early hours of the morning always on the qui vive, 
the sentry is safeguarding the sleeping officers and 
his mates. The general is the private ; the private 
is the general. But next morning, he omits men- 
tioning this fact to the general, because sentries 
also guard prisoners. 



••Sentry Go'* and Cold Steel 85 

A few pointers to the recruit mount- 
Promotion ^^S g^ard *'at home" for the first time 
will not be amiss. Remember that a 
soldier who is so efficient on guard that the officer 
of the day remarks on this efficiency, is the soldier 
who later becomes a non-commissioned officer. 
Guard duty is the real test of soldier efficiency. 
On this detail his good and bad qualities are very 
apparent. No. i Post is the coveted post of the 
guard. It is an honor for a soldier to be No. i, 
because that position requires more intelligence and 
efficiency than all of the other posts combined. 
Soldiers will figiu-e out in advance the manner in 
which their details are to be mounted, so that 
when the guard is counted off into reliefs, they 
will be the men who number ''one" at the guard- 
house. Among the new guard you will see a 
shifting and changing of places in ranks, the poor 
soldier swapping No. i Post for an easier one. 
Don't be a swapper, unless you are the one that ac- 
cepts the * ' No. I ' ' offer. A recruit generally knows 
a few days in advance when he is likely to be 
detailed for guard. Get out your Guard Manual 
and get busy. Learn these General Orders by 
heart. Keep on pounding at them so that you will 
be able to say them backwards. This will help you. 



86 First Call 

My general orders are : 
"General I- ^o take charge of this post and 

Orders " all government property in view. 

2. To walk my post in a military manner, 
keeping always on the alert and observing every- 
thing that takes place within sight or hearing. 

3. To report all violations of orders I am in- 
structed to enforce. 

4. To repeat all calls from posts more distant 
from the guardhouse than m}^ own. 

5. To quit my post only when properly relieved. 

6. To receive, obey, and pass on to the senti- 
nel who relieves me, all orders from the command- 
ing officer, officer of the day, and officers and 
non-commissioned officers of the guard only. 

7. To talk to no one, except in line of duty. 

8. In case of fire or disorder, to give the 
alarm. 

9. To allow no one to commit a nuisance on 
or near my post. 

10. In any case not covered by instructions, 
to call the corporal of the guard. 

11. To salute all officers, and all colors and 
standards not cased. 

12. To be especially watchful at night, and, 
during the time for challenging, to challenge all 



••Sentry Go** and Cold Steel 87 

persons on or near my post, and to allow no one 
to pass without proper authority. 

Then, after studying these carefully, if pos- 
sible, take a run down to the guardhouse, and ask 
the corporal or sergeant if he will let you study 
the special orders issued for the posts. Read them 
all, so that you will intelligently understand them, 
because you can never tell to what post you will 
be assigned, after the guard is mounted. 

The cleanest man at guard mount is ^ , . 

^ Orderly 

selected by the Adjutant to be Orderly 
for the Commanding Officer. This is a great 
honor. In addition, the orderly also *'gets all 
night in" — that is, he attends the Commanding 
Officer — generally the Colonel — during the day, 
and sleeps in quarters at night, while the rest of 
the soldiers are walking or riding their posts. 
You will appreciate this, especially if the night is 
cold, stormy, or rainy. 

See that your equipment is in perfect order 
according to the regulations issued by the Govern- 
ment. Go out after Orderly and pretty soon you 
will be a non-commissioned officer. At guard 
mounting during the inspection of the guard by 
the Adjutant, a soldier must be alert and wary 
for many tricks are used. If the Adjutant is 



88 First Call 

closely inspecting you with a view of picking you 

for Orderly and he asks, "What is the matter with 

your shoe, your belt, your bayonet (or any part 

of your equipment?)" do not look down at that 

particular piece of equipment. Answer him with 

your head and eyes straight to the front. If you 

have relinquished the position of attention in any 

way, your chances of Orderly will quickly fade. 

^ ^ , On guard be self-confident; remem- 

On Guard ^ 

her that you and you alone are in charge 
of your post, and that no one in the post has 
authority to give you orders, except a command- 
ing officer, an officer, or non-commissioned of- 
ficer of the guard. You are the "Boss" and 
should be strictly following your general and 
special orders. While walking post at night, 
especially if it is cold and black and stormy, you 
will be sorely tempted to take a chance and leave 
your post for some quiet shelter, figuring out that 
the officer of the day or non-commissioned officer 
of the guard will not be around, — but remember 
that when you take this chance then is the time 
that the officer of the day or "non-com " hits your 
post. **Your belt is pulled" and into the guard- 
house you go, — then comes a court-martial, fol- 
lowed by a severe sentence of fine or imprisonment. 



-•Sentry Go" and Cold Steel 89 

While walking post at night do not look at 
your watch, because the time will seem twice as 
long. Be cheerful on guard, because a grouchy 
guard means twenty-four hours of confusion and 
misery. But in France will come the real respon- 
sibility of guard duty. Do not forget that there 
a negligence which seems trifling in your eyes, 
may result in valuable information to the enemy, 
the loss of the lives of your comrades or the de- 
struction of your command, — and do not forget 
that this dereliction of duty is punishable by death. 

Before he gets through with his 

. . . ^ -TT . 1 o The Bayonet 

trammg period m the united btates, 

many a draftman will heartily curse that knife- 
like contrivance which so snugly fits on the end 
of his rifle. It has a habit of getting rusty, and 
causing the owner to land on fatigue. If it is 
rusty on too many occasions the owner is liable 
to view the outside world from behind the bars of 
the guardhouse. If he does land in the "mill,'* 
strange to say, he does not blame his own careless- 
ness but shifts the responsibihty of his imprison- 
ment on the Government, censuring it for not 
issuing a non-rustable bayonet. Then again, 
while drilling v/ith fixed bayonets, if he is in the 
rear rank it will need constant dodging on his part 



90 First Call 

to avoid the bayonet of the man in front of him. 
Perhaps during bayonet fighting drill he will be 
required to hold the position of guard, while the 
instructor is explaining to some ''juniper" that a 
bayonet is not for the purpose of stabbing custard 
pies, but is to be used only to let daylight through 
a German; therefore it is up to said "juniper" to 
get a little weight behind his thrust. The man in 
the position of guard is just beginning to discover 
that he possesses muscles that he never before 
dreamed of. These muscles are under quite a 
strain and hurt worse than a toothache. 

Trench warfare is like fighting over the long 
distance telephone, until the soldier gets the chance 
to go "over the top" in a charge and comes face 
to face with the enemy. When this happens and 
he sees a great big German in front of him that 
bayonet instead of being a heavy, clumsy affair 
seems to the man like a needle stuck in a cork. 
Then, perhaps, while in this unenviable position, a 
feeling of regret and remorse passes through him 
that he did not put his whole heart and soul into 
his bayonet fighting back in "Blighty." When 
you are hand to hand with an enemy, your life 
depends on the quick and proper use of your bayo- 
net, so therefore my advice to you is: while in 



••Sentry Go** and Cold Steel 91 

training put your whole heart and soul into bayonet 
drill. 

When engaged with an enemy, you do not re- 
member points, thrusts, jabs, and guarding, as 
laid down in your training, but these things will 
come to you mechanically. You just naturally 
do them, — that is, if you have not shirked on 
your training. 

I do not intend to go into the methods of bayonet 
fighting, because it is unnecessary. You will 
learn that in your training from much more com- 
petent instructors than I. But I must speak 
of one great advantage we have: the German is 
deathly afraid of cold steel. He is a good artillery- 
man, machine gunner, bomber, and long distance 
fighter, but when he sees that polished knife in 
front of him, it is generally ''both hands up in the 
air. ' ' Squealing like a pig he will shout, — ' ' Mercy 
Kamerad"; hut when he surrenders take no 
chances, — do not in any way put yourself at a 
disadvantage, because if he has a chance he will 
get you — that is one of the lessons he has learned 
from Kultur. Sometimes it is necessary to kill 
a snake so I will leave it to your own judgment. 



CHAPTER XI 

"what shall I SEND HIM?" 

V/^OU are sitting in your tent in Spartanburg, 
•■■ Yaphank, or any one of our North American 
camps; the Mail Orderly throws in a large parcel 
from home, — ^you are delighted, the rest of the 
fellows crowd aroimd as you open up the package. 
You feel kind of chesty attracting so much inter- 
est — yes, even the corporal is looking on. Into 
the parcel goes your hand, out it comes, and in 
your fist is a pair of pink pajamas. A snicker runs 
arotmd the circle of onlookers, then it bursts out 
into a barrage of jokes all aimed at you and your 
pink pajamas! It makes you feel "punk"; in 
anger you throw them at the bunch; there is a 
scramble for them. You are surprised that they 
want them. 

Later on you find out the reason. 

Pk^PajLias^^^^ pajamas make excellent gun rags. 

It wasn't the fault of the people at 

home, — ^your dear old mother did not want you 

92 



-What Shall I Send Him?'' 93 

to appear ridiculous in the eyes of your mates, she 
just didn't know what to send. 

A list of the things that experience has proven 
useful may be a help to the mother and the rest of 
the family, and a godsend to the boy in camp and 
at the front, so I append it. 

(But don't overioad 3^ourself , pick out a few that 
you want and need most. You won't have to 
throw them away when leaving for France. If you 
do, you are a mighty poor soldier and have not 
learned the tricks of the trade. A word to the 
wise is sufficient.) 

Balaclava helmet. Belts (leather). 
Books (military and otherwise). ^llf^i 

Brushes (hair). Buttons (patent 
bachelor press). Candy (chocolate, licorice 
gum drops). Canned heat. Cascara pills. 
Chewing gum. Cigar case. Cigar Hghters. 
Combs. Compasses. Diaries (leather or cloth). 
Envelopes. Eye rings (to fasten military buttons) . 
Field glasses. Flash-lights. Fountain pen with 
safety clip. Gloves (woolen, with thumb and 
fingers cut off at second joint for drill, also warm 
woolen gloves for off duty). Handkerchiefs 
(red, blue, or khaki). Housewifes. Jack-knives 
with can opener attached. Lanyards (braided 



94 First Call 

leather). Match-box (metal, to hold ordinary- 
box of matches). Mirror (small, metal trench 
mirror). Money. Money belts. Mouth organs. 
Nail clippers. Neckerchiefs. Note-books (leather). 
Pencils (indelible). Pipes. Playing cards. Pow- 
der (foot ease). Pocket chess and checker 
boards. Razors (safety, old-fashioned and com 
razors). Razor strap. Rubber attachment for 
Bull Durham sacks. Safety pins. Safety razor 
blades. Sauce "A i." Scissors (pocket, with 
blunt tips). Shaving sets. Shaving-soap, stick. 
Shaving glass (heavy). Shoes (tennis or gymna- 
sium, high, white or black, canvas-topped, rubber- 
soled). Shoe-laces (leather). Sketching mater- 
ials and outfits. Spirit stoves. Soap, Ivory. 
Socks (wool). Soap box. Sponge (rubber, for bath- 
ing). Stationery case (khaki — containing paper, 
envelopes, and diary). Sweaters and sweater 
coats. Talcum powder. Thermos bottles. To- 
bacco pouches. Tooth-brushes and holders. 
Tooth-paste. Towels. Underwear (light, sleeve- 
less knee-length for summer, and wool for winter). 
Vaseline. Watch chains. Watch cases (Aluminimi 
preferred to gold or silver watches). Whetstone 
(for razor blades and knife) . Wrist watches, with 
illuminated dials. Wrist-watch straps. Wristlets. 



••What Shall I Send Him?" 95 

Writing paper (tablets, narrow-size envelopes) 
AND Smokes ! ! ! 

Don't send stamps. Soldiers on por the Love 
active service do not pay postage. of Mike 

DonH send white handkerchiefs. 
They are dangerous, as they are easily observed 
by the enemy. 

0071' t send jam, cheese, or canned meats, as the 
Tommies and Sammies will be "fed up" on these. 

Don't send light socks ; they are worthless. 

Don't send cooling drink extracts; they are 
injurious, especially on the march. 

Do7iH write saying you expect him to win a 
Medal of Honor or become a general within a 
week. He won't. 

The Balaclava helmet is very com- 
fortable in winter time, especially ^. 
when wearing the "tin hat," or steel 
helmet. It consists of a woolen headpiece, cover- 
ing the top of head, ears, back of neck, cheeks, and 
front of the neck. The neck-piece should be long 
enough to go well below the collar of the blouse. 
There should be strings to tie below the chin. 

Woolen gloves should be fingerless and thumb- 
less so that the soldier may work his rifle without 
removing his gloves. 



96 First Call 

Send plenty of large handkerchiefs, dark red, 
dark blue, or khaki- colored. 

Watches can have illuminated dials but not il- 
luminated numbers, as these are dangerous when 
reconnoitering in No Man's Land. The best sort 
to send is the one with a little dot of radium over 
each number and a large dot below the XII. 

If the boy uses a safety razor, send him blades 
frequently, as they are so easily lost in the 
trenches. 

The soldier can easily obtain ink, so send him a 
fountain pen. 

Indelible, soft lead pencils are useful for marking 
equipment and personal belongings. 

A bottle of sauce will make the ever-present 
"Canned Willie" palatable. 

Chocolate and licorice gum drops relieve the 
monotony of rations. 

Mustard, pickles, and pickled walnuts are fine. 

As the soldier seldom sews on a button, patent 
bachelor press buttons are mighty useful — so are 
patent-clamp buttons. 

Be sure and send a pair of tennis or "gym" 
shoes, rubber-soled, with high tops, white or black. 
The higher they are the better. Send him, not 
a cheap pair but ones that will last. These shoes 



••What Shall I Send Him?'* 97 

will rest his feet when returning from tours in the 
trenches and long hikes. 

Occasionally enclose a book with a punch. 

If in doubt what to send in the eating line, send 
money — it is always welcome. 

In sending letters, always be cheery, — he has 
plenty of trouble at the front, without additional 
worries over those at home. 

If he gets in trouble, sympathize with him. 
Never knock. 

Keep your over-enthusiastic friends from sending 
letters that point out the way to Heaven. Their 
advice is well meant but bores Sammy. There are 
plenty of fine chaplains at the front. 

Send him your love, trust, and well wishes. 

Don't forget him on his birthday. 

Even though he didn't smoke at home, he will 
now, so 

Send Smokes and plenty of them ! 

I'll try to tell you why in the following chapter. 



CHAPTER XII 



'* smokes" 



OUR boys, Uncle Sam's boys, are fighting in 
France. 

Think it over. 

They are not in camp for ten days ; they are not 
on the Mexican Border; they are not drilling in 
armories. 

They are fighting in the trenches. 

Many of them will never again see their homes, 
this beautiful God's country of theirs and ours. 
They will die, and be buried, thousands of miles 
away, with a little wooden cross at the head of a 
mound of dirt, to mark their fall. In time, the 
elements will destroy this cross and perhaps a 
bursting shell will level that mound of dirt. 

They are dead. Are they forgotten in death? 

You know they died for their beloved Stars and 
Stripes. Sacrificed all for their flag and us. Yes, 
— gave their lives for us, we, who are here at home, 
eating our three squares a day, sleeping in our 

98 



• 'Smokes* • 99 

comfortable beds. Although we are doing, or are 
trying to do our bit, still we are not wet, cold, and 
muddy; we are not bleeding; we are comfortable 
physically, though our hearts are wrenched. 
These boys of ours are uncomfortable physically, 
and there is also a tugging at their heart-strings. 
They are longing for mother, father, brother, 
sister, wife, or sweetheart, and perhaps their little 
ones. 

The cry rings throughout the land, *'Ameri- 
cansdoyour bit!" Send our boys ammunition, 
food, guns, bayonets, and the things necessary to 
win this war for us. 

Quite right — send them, but what about 

SMOKES? 

We all know a soldier's work is to destroy and 
kill, so that we may live. 

This work to him is repulsive. He is not a 
murderer; he does not revel in bloodshed. He is 
HUMAN. He doesn't w^ant to work all the time. He 
needs play, recreation, and comfort just as we do. 

He wants a smoke — is dying for one. His 

OVERSTRAINED NERVES NEED ONE. 

These are facts, not theory. I know. I have 
been in the trenches and craved the comfort of a 
good, delicious smoke — and didn't get it. 



100 First Call 

Perhaps you will say, * ' My boy is over there and 
he doesn't smoke." 

Don't fool yourself, — after he has ''sat it out'* 
on the fire step of a front-line trench for a few 
days, he will smoke. He can't help it. 

The public, to be convinced, must have facts. 
Well, here are some facts, actual happenings in 
the trenches of France, and in hospitals. These 
incidents will show the crying need of the soldiers 
for smokes. 

Are we going to send them some, or are we 
going to let them keep on longing? 

SMOKES ? 

A wounded Tommy Atkins is lying 

Everywhere ^^^ ground, the blood running 

in France t> > o 

from a hole in his leg made by a bit of 

shrapnel; he is yelling for stretcher-bearers. Here 
they come at the double. They stop beside him, 
place the stretcher on the ground, open it up, and 
one of them unbuttons a Httle pouch he is carrying. 
He sticks in his hand and pulls out — no, not a ban- 
dage — ^but a smoke. Hands it to the wounded 
Tommy, who is grinning. The grin makes cracks 
in the dried mud on his face — then the following 
conversation ensues : 



"Smokes'* loi 

Stretcher-hearer: "Want a smoke? Where are 
you hit?" 

Tommy: "Yes. In the leg." 

The stretcher-bearer Hghcs the smoke, binds up 
Tommy's wound, and placing him on the stretcher, 
the two Red Cross men, start with him on their 
way to the nearest advanced dressing station. 
Wending their way through the muddy and 
narrow communication trench, the leading 
stretcher-bearer stumbles over a trench grid, — 
down he goes, and Tommy is nearly dumped into 
the mud. 

He lets out a yell. 

The offending stretcher-bearer, red faced and 
ashamed of his carelessness, in a nervous voice 
inquires : 

"Did I 'urt your wound, mate? I*m sorry." 

Tommy answers: "'Ell no!" 

The stretcher-bearer, indignantly: 

"Well, wot's all the bloody row about?" 

Tommy meekly: 

"I dropped me smoke, mate, tip us another." 

The stretcher-bearers search their pouches and 
pockets, but find none. 

The stretcher, with its bleeding burden, resumes 
its winding course through the trench, its wake 



102 First Call 

blue with ciirses and sarcastic remarks from 
Tommy directed at the stretcher-bearers. 

If there had been another smoke, Tommy woiild 
have been contented and happy, but as it was he 
was miserable and complaining, making it un- 
pleasant for everyone who handled him in his 
long trip to "Blighty." 

But such is the creed of the trenches, — keep our 
boys warm, their bellies full, give them plenty of 
smokes, and they will plant the flag in Berlin. 
Just stop filling any one of the three needs — 
especially the ''smokes" — and although the flag 
will eventually land where it belongs, it will take 
much longer. 

Send them smokes ! 

On another day: 

We had gone "over the top" in a charge early 
that morning. It was tough sledding. We were 
"clicking" casualties so fast that an adding 
machine was needed to keep count of them. 

There were ten of us, — a machine gun, a ser- 
geant, six Vickers machine gunners, and two 
company men detailed from the battalion for the 
purpose of bringing up "ammo" (ammunition). 

Our part in this little affair of "straightening 
the line" consisted in the operation of a machine 



••Smokes'* 103 

gun to help break up the counter attack, which the 
Germans would launch against our captured 
position. 

When the counter attack started it was hot 
work. Belt after belt was fed through the gun. 
The water in the barrel casing was boiling. Shells 
were commencing to drop around our crater, too 
close for comfort. The German artillery had 
"taped" us and we knew it would only be a short 
time before a shell, with our names and numbers 
on it, would come screeching over, but we had to 
hold our position. 

Our ammunition was getting low. The Ser- 
geant detailed two men to go back for **ammo" — 
a risky job under that intense fire. The men were 
about to start when one of the madiine gunners 
shouted into the ear of the Sergeant : 

''Don't send Collins, he's got the only pipe in 
this bally crowd. Supposin' he gets hit?" 

The Sergeant, with a look of mortification on his 
smutty face, replied : 

''Blime me, so he has. I'm a silly ass to forget 
it. Wallace, you go after 'ammo' and, Collins, 
you get on the gun. " 

Wallace started grousing but went. He got 
hit in the leg. If he had had a pipe he wouldn't 



104 First Call 

have been sent. Collins stayed with us — ^he wasn't 
wounded. 

During a lull in the firing we each took turns at 
the pipe. We had our smoke. 

Did we win? — well, I think we did, I can't 
rightly remember, but anyway, Fritz packed up 
his artillery and we were safe — ^but, do you know? 
we certainly enjoyed that smoke. 

Send them smokes. 

Another day: 

I had been slightly wounded in an attack on the 
German lines and had been sent to the Base 
Hospital at Rouen. 

The bed next to mine was empty; the sheets 
were turned down ; the pillow was missing, and a 
rubber sheet was stretched across the center of the 
bed, the ends of which were neatly tucked under 
the mattress. It was my first time in a hospital, 
but even to me, a recruit, it seemed that that 
bed was specially prepared, was waiting for some 
special case. I was right, — it was. 

In the bed on my left was a Jock, a Scottie, from 
the 15th Royal Scots, or "Ladies from Hell" as 
this particular Highland Regiment was lovingly 
called by Fritz, our neighbor across No Man's 
Land. This Jock had lost his left foot from a shell 



• « 



Smokes* • 105 



burst. I asked him why the bed was made up in 
such a peculiar manner. He told me that the 
occupant, a Canadian, was up in the *' pictures" 
(operating theater) having both hands amputated 
at the wrists, and also that the Canadian had been 
blinded by an exploding bomb, while raiding the 
German trenches. 

In about half an hour, four white-clothed order- 
lies came down the ward, carrying a stretcher; in 
the wake of the stretcher came a Red Cross nurse. 
They halted before the unoccupied bed on my 
right. Then I marveled at the efficient and gentle 
way in which the wounded man was transferred 
from the stretcher to the bed. The * ' Undertaker's 
Squad" left, but the Red Cross nurse sat beside 
her patient, every now and then shooing a fly 
away from the bandaged ^head, or with a piece of 
gauze bandage, wiping away the white froth which 
constantly oozed from the half-open lips of the 
bandaged form. 

In a short time the ether began to die out and 
the frothy lips twitched. Then a sigh and the 
man began to sing, — not God Save the King or 
The Maple Leaf Forever, but — Never Introduce a 
Bloke to Your Lady Friend. 

Pretty soon this tune changed to a shout 



io6 First Call 

of "Ammo! [Ammunition] Ammo! Ammo for- 
ward!" You could hear him all over the ward. 
The nurse started to sing a crooning little lullaby. 
The shouting ceased. Further twitching and 
twisting and the ether was expelled into an ever 
ready little receptacle held in the hands of the 
nurse. In a few minutes, rays of consciousness 
penetrated to the brain of the wounded man and 
he started to mutter : 

*'Tum on the lights, it's dark — it*s dark! — I 
can't see — it's dark — dark! — Take that damned 
pillow off my head — it's dark — dark — I tell you! 
What's the matter with my mitts? — they're tied — 
cobblestones on them! — Where am I? — Smokey, 
this dugout's dark — switch on the glim!" 

The nurse was talking to him in a low voice and 
crooning her lullaby. My God, how that girl 
could sing! 

It was not long before the blinded soldier fell 
asleep. He slept for three hours, the nurse beside 
him; not for a second did she leave her post. I 
inwardly wished that the patient would sleep for 
hours longer. The presence of that nurse made 
me feel happy and contented all over. 

The form on the bed stirred and then in a 
plaintive voice : 



**Smokes" 107 

"Where am I? Where am I? Turn on the 
lights ! Turn on the Hghts ! ' ' 

The sun was streaming through the window. 

The nurse was crying. So was I. The Jock 
on my left was softly cursing to himself. 

The angel of mercy leaned over her patient and 
in a low voice whispered to him: 

^* Never mind, dearie, you are in the hospi- 
tal, and will soon be in Blighty for a nice long 
rest." 

The Canadian's mouth twitched, I thought he 
was going to cry. It was a pretty mouth, but the 
lips were blanched to a bluish white. 

He asked the nurse : 

''What time is it?" 

She answered "Three o'clock, dearie; try and go 
to sleep, you'll feel better soon. " 

The Canadian asked in a piteous voice, "Why is 
it so dark? " Then he shouted in a terror-stricken 
voice, "I know — I know — they've put my lights 
out! Good God, I'm blind!— I'm blind!— My 
eyes are gone — gone — gone!" — and his voice died 
out in a long sob. 

Three doctors came through and held a low- 
voiced consultation. Two of them left, one 
stayed. 



loS First Call 

The Jock whispered to me: "Poor bloke, he's 
' going west . ' I know the signs. ' ' 

The d^dng man began to mutter. The nurse 
bent over him. She had a writing pad and a 
pencil in her hand ; she whispered to him : ''Dearie, 
the mail is going out, do you want me to write a 
note home to the folks? Just a short note telling 
them that you are all right and will be with them 
in a couple of months?" 

The patient answered : 

"Home? Folks? I've never had any since I 
was a kid. Home I — God, I wish I had one!" 
The writing pad in the nurse's hand was wet. 
The bandage on my shoulder was wet, — perhaps 
the blood was soaking through, but blood is red. 

The voice of the wotmded man again : " I want — 
want — I want a " 

The nurse: ""\Miat do you want, boy, what can 
I get for you — a nice cool dririk? " 

The answer came back : 

"A drink? — hell no! — I want a smoke — where's 
my makin's? — I want a fag — a smoke — a smoke!" 

She looked at the doctor. He nodded. She left 
the patient and came over to me. I felt as if I 
were in the presence of God. She whispered to 
me: "Have you a cigarette, my dear, for that poor 



••Smokes" 109 

boy? We are all out — have not received any for 
ten days. If the people at home only realized 
what a Godsend smokes are for these poor wounded 
lads, they would send them out. They are as 
important as shells. " 

I told her to look in my kit bag. She looked 
through it and found one, all out of shape — a 
Goldflake. I think it was the only smoke left 
in that ward of sixty-nine patients. 

With J03' in her eyes she went back to her 
patient, gently put the cigarette between his lips 
and hghted it. 

A contented sigh, two or three weak puffs, and 
the lighted cigarette fell out of his mouth on to the 
sheet. He was asleep. 

It was getting late; I feU asleep. When I woke 
it was morning. 

The bed on my right was empty. The nurses 
in the ward had red eyes. They had been cr>ing. 

I turned an inquiring gaze to the Jock on my 
left . He solemnly nodded and his mouth twitched . 
I thought he was going to cr}', but suddenly he 
looked at me, tears in his e^^es, and said, ''Aw, 
go to heU!" and turned over on his side. 

Do the men in the trenches want smokes? 

Do they want their mothers? 



no First Call 

Do they want their wives and sweethearts? 

Do they want the fields and flowers at home? 

Do they want smokes? 

God! do they want them? They need them! 
They cry for them ! They must have them ! 

Americans, if you could only see with your own 
eyes, you would realize the crying need for smokes 
in France, and you would starve in order that 
they could have them. 

Do your bit — send contributions to the "Smoke 
Fund" and win the gratitude and thanks of the 
boys who are fighting your fight — our fight — 
Uncle Sam*s fight — the civilized world^s fight. 

Let your slogan be: 

' * Smokes for Sammy I ' ' 

— and turn the words into actions. Do it now. We 
are waiting for your contribution. How would 
you have liked to have been the one who fur- 
nished that smoke for the dying man? You can 
be for another. Will you? The answer is, — you 
are an American, that means Yes. 



CHAPTER XIII 



*'all aboard 



A FTER spending several months of hard and 
** intensive training in a cantonment, rumors 
that your outfit is to leave for the front will spring 
up over night like mushrooms. Each rumor will 
send a thrill of expectancy through you — life 
after all is worth living, — you write a letter home 
saying "Good-bye" and — the rumor fizzles out. 
After you have been fooled several times in this 
manner you become skeptical. 

Then some day your sergeant (of 
course in strict confidence) will impart ai 

the information that the outfit is to 
move, because the general's orderly heard the 
adjutant direct the sergeant major to inform the 
company commanders and first sergeants to 
submit reports of the strength of their commands 
and to have a special inspection of equipment. 
You (also in confidence) with a knowing and 

III 



112 



First Call 



important air tell your bunkie these glad tidings. 
In about an hour the whole company is excited 
and on pins and needles. The reports are sub- 
mitted and the inspection takes place but — you do 
not move. 

Rumor follows rumor — with disappointment 
tacked to the end of each. You become ''fed 
up." 

But at last the eventful day arrives. At 
morning drill the officers appear to be excited, 
give foolish commands; they fairly burst mth 
suppressed eagerness and excitement. This feel- 
ing is communicated to the men and runs through 
the ranks like an electric current. They know 
something important is going to happen ; they can 
smell it in the air. The ranks stiffen and the 
manual of arms is executed with a vim and 
snap that has long been missing. Each soldier is 
saying to himself: "Right after the manual of 
arms, the old man is going to tip us off to what's 
in the air." 

The manual of arms is finished and you open 
ranks for bayonet fighting drill. Bitter dis- 
appointment again — you cast a scornful and re- 
proachful look in the direction of your captain. 
Then your hope revives and you say: "Right 



••Ail Aboard** 113 

after bayonet fighting we get the glad tidings," 
and you thrust and jab as if there really were a 
Fritz in front of you. Nothing happens ; * ' Recall 
sounds; your heart hits the zero mark. The 
company is marched off, a look of personal injury 
and indignation on the faces of the men. The 
company reaches its barracks thoroughly disgusted. 

"What's that? The captain wants to say a 
few words to the men? Well, for the love of Mike, 
why doesn't he spit 'em out, what's he waiting 
for?" 

''Men, we break camp to-morrow morning at 
ten. We're off at last. The regiment will entrain 
at three o'clock for an Atlantic port. Our 
chance has come to show what's in us. I know 
every officer and man in the company will make 
good. Dismissed." 

Cheers ring out, hats are thrown in the air, and 
the captain walks away, with shoulders back, and 
tears of pride for the company, his company, 
dimming his eyes. 

Then comes a succession of railroad journeys, 
loading and unloading cars, until at last you 
arrive at the dock, and there alongside looms up 
a monstrous floating hotel. It is the transport 
which is to convey you ''over there. " 



114 First Call 

After many exasperating delays you 
G lank ^^^^lly go Up the gangplank ; you have 
now left terra firma and at last feel 
the boards of a ship's deck under your feet. 
Perhaps for the first time you are on the sea. 
You sure will be seasick. This is one of the 
meanest sensations that can be imagined. During 
this sickness everything appears a deep indigo 
blue color. Nothing matters, — death seems wel- 
come. Can't eat and don't want to. Telling 
you to be cheerful during this malady is worse 
than useless. There is no preventative, except to 
stay on deck and hug the rail. After a couple of 
days this sickness will pass awa}^ and you will be 
famished. Go to it and make up for lost time. 
If some old sailor comes near while you are in the 
throes of seasickness, and suggests that you take 
a big fat piece of pork, tie it to a string, swallow 
it, and then repeat the movement two or three 
times, pay no attention to him, although way 
down in your soul you vow to kill him when you 
get well. It is a funny thing but true that when 
you do recover, this same old sailor will still .be 
alive and you will find yourself laughing and 
joking with him. 

When you leave the land for the sea there is 



••All Aboard" 115 

an entire new language to learn. A few of the 
ordinary nautical terms may help you from be- 
traying that you are making your first trip. 

You go on board a ship by means of 
a "gangplank." The right side of a Terms 

ship is called the ''starboard" side; 
the left side, the "port" side. The front of the 
ship is known as "forward," the rear as "aft." 
Do not say you are going downstairs, but use 
the term "going below." "Going above" means 
upstairs; "aloft" — in the rigging. At night, a 
green light is displayed on the starboard; red on 
the port. 

Every half hour the ship's bell rings out the 
time, one stroke of the bell denoting a half -hour. 
The time is set from meridian, one bell meaning 

12.30 P.M. 

1 bell 12.30 P.M. 

2 bells one o'clock 

3 " 1-30 

4 " 2 o'clock 

5 " 2.30 

6 '' 3 o'clock 

7 " 3-30 

8 " 4 o'clock 



ii6 First Call 

then in the next watch : 

1 bell 4.30 

2 bells 5 o'clock 

3 " 5.30 

4 " 6 o'clock 

5 " 6.30 
etc., etc., 

repeating every four hours (or every "watch"). 

When you get on the transport a 
At ScE 

numbered billet, on which to swing 
your hammock, and a fire station will be assigned 
to each man, also a place in a lifeboat or on a 
catamaran. After settling down, get your life 
preserver, examine it thoroughly, and see that 
none of the straps are missing and that they are 
sound. Adjust the life preserver on your person 
several times, until you can readily put it on in 
the dark or in the midst of confusion. Go to your 
lifeboat and fix in your mind the easiest and 
quickest way to reach it. This ma}?^ save you if 
the ship should founder. Then forget about sub- 
marines and ' ' carry on " with your ordinary routine. 
At night, strict orders are issued that no lights 
be shown. The port holes will be screened. 
While on deck at night avoid lighting matches, or 
smoking cigarettes, cigars, and pipes, — the glow 



••All Aboard" 117 

will inform lurking submarines of the ship's 
whereabouts. The trip across will probably be 
very tame and disappointing. But when the 
shores of France loom up in the distance, you 
will be all enthusiasm and eagerness to disembark. 
No doubt you will lie alongside for hours before 
you actually can leave the ship. 

While on the ship make it a point to write a 
letter, each day, to the folks at home. Mail the 
lot when you reach France, — that is, if the censor 
will let them go through. 



CHAPTER XIV 

BACKING UP THE BOY 

"\ T O W Sammy is on the sea, running the gaunt- 
-*• ^ let of the submarines. Before we again 
take up with him his journey to the trenches 
let us pause for a moment and think what 
we, who are breaking our hearts because we 
cannot go, can do to help him and bring victory 
a little nearer. Our hearts are with him but our 
bodies are here, because we are too old, too young, 
physically unfit, or because we are women and 
children. Let us not get hysterical but, keeping 
both feet firmly on the ground, size up the facts 
and calmly review the situation. 
Whatthe ^® ^^^ over-age — ^what can we do? 

Old Can Do We can use our brains, employ them 
*^ ^^ in the service of Uncle Sam. The 
great slogan is economize, therefore it is up 
to us to run our factories, ofiices, and homes 
without waste. Sit down by yourself and think 

Il8 




^)U. & u. 



German Submarine Mine-layer, Captured by the British. 



©u. & u. 



British Submarine, D-8. 



Backing Up the Boy 119 

it out carefully. Draw up a rough statement of 
your personal expenditures for a month, — ^get out 
your little "hatchet of economy" and start chip- 
ping off unnecessary luxuries. You will be 
surprised to find, after the chipping process, that 
you have saved between 30 and 40%. 

You want to do your bit. To really do your 
bit, you must personally sacrifice. Take these 
little chips and give them to Uncle Sam. Put 
them into Liberty Bonds, the Red Cross, the 
Y. M. C. A., into comforts for our soldiers, and 
then, when you have done this, dig down deeper 
still for Uncle Sam. Realize that this war is for 
you personally. Make it a personal issue between 
you and the Kaiser; during this combat, sweat, and 
after your day's work, you will go to bed with that 
warm glowing feeling that you are personally 
conducting a little war of your own against auto- 
cracy, rape, loot, and murder. 

You are physically unfit? Although xhePhysi- 
every nerve is tingling to get hold of a ^^^^ ^^* 
rifle and bayonet and march beside our 
boys, still it is decreed otherwise. Do not be down- 
hearted and despondent because you cannot engage 
in physical encounter with the enemy. Thank God 
that your brain is unimpaired. Look around you. 



120 First Call 

Get into one of the great movements for the 

furthering of the war : Vigilantes, Home Defense, 

Liberty Loan, Red Cross, Y. M. C. A., or one of the 

Government organizations. Help and encourage 

others. Go up on the house tops and shout to the 

world that you are proud that you are an American 

and then go down into the street among the throng 

and battle for America. 

Never let any one directly or by innuendo attack 

our flag, or government, or those of our Allies, 

^, „, You are a woman. Hold your head 

The Women -^ 

high and be proud of this fact. If 
you will only realize that "the hand that rocks 
the cradle rules the world" and that the hand that 
rocks the cradle will win this war, you will glory 
in the fact that you are a woman. Get out and 
prove to the skeptical that the winning of the war 
rests squarely on your shoulders. You are the 
governing influence over man. You can make 
him the patriot and send him into the front line 
trenches to fight for Liberty, Home, and You, or 
you can make him a crawling, slinking slacker. 
Where would the American Red Cross be without 
women? Join the Red Cross yourself, have your 
husband join, your sons, your daughters, — see that 
each one of them works for the Red Cross. Knit 



Backing Up the Boy 121 

for the Red Cross and keep on knitting for the 
Red Cross. Don't knit in public and then go 
home and throw your knitting aside, but knit in 
pubHc and also knit in the privacy of your home. 
You are the head of your household. The Allies 
are crying for food. Encourage them, cut down 
your living expense. Don't waste. Throw your 
garbage pail over the fence, and run your table 
so that a pill box will answer for the usual big 
galvanized iron garbage tin. Establish a meatless 
day and adhere to it strictly. Remember that 
every crust you save from the garbage can, means 
a crust for our fighting and bleeding Allies. Cut 
down on your dress. No war as yet has never been 
won in silks and satins. Put this money that 
you save into Liberty Bonds, the Red Cross, the 
Y. M. C. A. and other noble movements of this 
war. Before your family evening prayer at night, 
sing or play a stanza from the Star Spangled 
Banner. Let your family know that they in- 
dividually are American soldiers fighting in this 
great cause. 

You are under-age. Boys, if you 

The 
are old enough, join the Boy Scouts, Tjnder-Aee 

and before long you will be doing real 

duty and helping Uncle Sam win this war. 



122 First Call 

Wlien our wounded soldiers return to the United 
States and the hospitals are full, think of the 
satisfaction of being detailed as an orderly to a 
ward of wounded soldiers. You can write their 
letters, run their errands and cheer them up! 
Think of the great honor and pleasure you will 
derive from listening to their first-hand stories of 
personal experiences while fighting against the 
Kaiser! Girls, join the Red Cross and help your 
mother save in the house. While she is out on 
patriotic duty take care of the house and the 
children, and realize that you have temporarily 
been made " the hand that rocks the cradle. " 

All Americans subscribe to the Liberty 
Loaji Loan. There will be many more loans 

before the war is ended. Do not look 
at this as a safe business investment. Forget 
the cent per cent, issue. Any mercenary-, grasping 
man will rush into a safe conservative business 
deal. We do not want that kind of patriotism. 
Every bond that you buy, whether it is a S50 or 
a $1,000,000 one, means that you have bought 
that much of \4ctory for Uncle Sam. Buy your 
bond. Lay it on your desk before you; close 
your eyes and draw this picture : 

A drafted man in ci\dHan clothes enters the 



Backing Up the Boy 123 

United States Treasury. You hand him his 
bond as he goes in. Watch the other entrance, 
and pretty soon you will see this civilian coming 
out, equipped as a soldier of Uncle Sam with a 
rifle and bayonet in his hand, and a glow of 
patriotism in his eyes, bound with thousands of 
others for "Over There" to break up the firm of 
"MeundGott." 

When this war is over, do not take this bond 
and turn it in to collect your interest and principal. 
Frame it ; nail it upon the walls of your home, and 
when your grandchildren ask you: ''Daddy 
what did you do in the Great War for Liberty, " — 
point to it with pride and say: "Children there 
hangs my certificate of patriotism, my charter of 
liberty given to me by Uncle Sam w^hen he went 
'over the top,* for Justice, Democracy, and 
Liberty. There it is and there it shall stand for 
generations and generations.'* 

AUTHOR'S NOTE 

I have intentionally omitted in the preceding 
chapters many small details and tips for the soldier 
while actually passing through his training period in 
the United States, because his instructors cannot be 
improved upon and the drafted man will learn these 
things from them. 



124 First Call 

In the training-period in the United States, a mistake 
here and there does not matter so much. If a sham 
battle is won or lost, it means little besides good 
training. There are no killed or wounded soldiers; 
there is no smashed up territory to pay the cost of a 
mistake, — but, Sammy, when you get in France and 
are actually in the fire zone you are more or less, "on 
your own." Then a mistake may mean your life, 
and the lives of thousands of your mates. I have 
therefore devoted the major part of this book to 
suggestions for the other side, which were gained from 
my own experience in France, and which may safe- 
guard your life when you reach the Western Front. 



CHAPTER XV 



'V'OU have now landed in France or England. 
You are a stranger in a strange land. 
People and surroundings will appear strange to 
you and you will appear strange to these people 
and surroundings. You say to yourself: ''How 
should I act?" "How shaU I be friendly?" The 
best advice is: don't try to pose or put on airs. 
Just be a plain good American and you will be sur- 
prised to find that you are received with open arms. 

It will be a little hard to get along 
In London 

With the Englishman at first. His 

ways are so different from ours. The Englishman 

has a way of taking everything for granted. 

You mustn't talk to him about the war or 

ask about the victory. He is perfectly sure 

about victory. The only thing he does not 

know is how long it is going to take. Don't 

mention the might of money to him. Don't tell 

125 



126 First Call 

him that baseball has cricket skinned a mile. 
His opinion of baseball is just about the same as 
your opinion of cricket. Don't try to impress 
upon him the fact that he is a fool for allowing 
himself to be ruled by a King. The Englishman 
knows the King is only a figurehead and that the 
English people rule; besides he is a perfectly 
good observer and might come back at you and 
punch holes in our Senate and Congress. Do not 
herald your arrival in England and France as a 
great event and say that you have come over to 
win the war. Maybe they are wondering why 
you happened to be so late. 

Forget all about the "1776 stuff." Remember 
that you are of the same family, the same mother 
tongue, and that right now you are brothers in 
arms, and from now on will be marching side by 
side forever more in the advancement of Justice, 
Democracy, and Liberty. If an embarrassing 
situation does arise and an uncomfortable silence 
ensues, it can be readily adjusted. You should 
either offer or accept an invitation to tea. Over 
a cup of tea the unpleasantness evaporates like 
a fog in the sun. Remember more good friend- 
ships are built up over a cup of tea in England 
than over a cocktail in America. 



**Poilu and Tommy: Here's Sammy" 127 

Be modest and unassuming with the English- 
man or else he will tersely describe your attitude 
as Yankee "swank." 

Now with the Frenchman, the situa- With'the 
tion is a little different. The French Frenchman 
are really looking to the Americans as 
the saviours of their cause. You must be very 
careful to preserve this sentiment, because the 
French are very temperamental. If a Frenchman 
shows his enthusiasm and appreciation by kissing 
you, don't land on him, but kiss him back. A 
kiss to a Frenchman is the same as a hearty 
handshake to an American. The French are ex- 
tremely polite. You must be polite with them. 
Never make fun of a Frenchman. It is a mortal 
insult. The American must remember that the 
Frenchman's politeness does not mean that he 
is afraid. A Frenchman generally apologizes to 
a German before he runs his bayonet through 
him. 

Now, Americans, remember that although we 
are fighting in the Frenchman's cause, as well as 
our own, we ought to use a little common 
sense. We are fighting in the Frenchman's 
back yard. We are fighting a common enemy, 
trying to keep him from climbing over the fence 



128 First Call 

into this yard, but it is the Frenchman's yard. 
He has laid it out, planted flowers, put in many 
years of toil and love to make it beautiful. Keep 
the paths as laid out by the Frenchman and avoid 
stepping on his flower beds. Just act as a good, 
true American, and you .wiU get a wonderful 
reception. 

You must excuse each other*s mistakes. Team 
up in the common cause and go out looking for 
Germans to wallop. 

When you arrive at your billet in some village, 
you will find that prices will slightly rise. Do 
not consider this as an injury or an insult, because 
it really is a compliment. The French people 
imagine every American is a millionaire. They 
set the best before him and he is expected to pay 
the price. This impression was made before the 
war by American tourists in France. They 
scattered their money aroimd as if it had no 
value. 

Of course, at first you will not be able to un- 
derstand the Frenchman. He will be jabbering 
away like a machine-gun. You wiU be helpless. 
Then there is an awkward pause, and he looks 
for you to return the fire. You do not know what 
to say. A string of "Oui, Oui, Ouis" will get 




Cap Devices and Badges— British Army 

I — London Scottish 9 — Military Police 

2 — King s Own Scottish Borderers 10 — The Welsh 

3 — The Royal Scots 11 — London Rifle Brigade 

4 — Irish Regiment 12 — 3d King's Own Hussars 

5 — George Rex, Home Defence 13 — The King's Own 

6 — Royal Dragoon Guards 14 — Royal Dublin Fusiliers 

7 — Army Service Corps iS — loth Royal Hussars 

8 — New Zealand 16 — Durham Light Infantry 
17 — gth Lancers 




Cap Devices and Badges — British Army 



1 8 — Canada — Collar Device 

19 — Royal Army Medical Corps 

20 — The Royal Dragoons 

21 — Northumberland Fusiliers 

22 — Army Veterinary Corps 

23 — Royal Flying Corps 

24 — Army Ordnance Corps 

25 — First Life Guards 



26 — Connaught Rangers 

27 — Middlesex Regiment 

28 — Royal Marines 

29 — 12th Lancers 

30 — Canadian Engineers 

31 — Australia 

32— Royal Engineers 

33 — Royal Field Artillery 



••Poilu and Tommy: Here's Sammy'* 129 

you nowhere, but throw both hands into the air 
and shout **Vive la France" and the Frenchman 
will answer "Vive TAmerique,'* will kiss you a 
couple of times, and away you go, the best of 
friends^ thoroughly imderstanding each other. 



CHAPTER XVI 

ON LANDING IN FRANCE 

'X'HE first spare moment after landing at "a port 
^ in France' ' should be utilized in writing home. 
It will help to remember that all of your letters, 
while on active service, will be censored. Don't 
try to send anything through by code, because 
they will get you. Give the censor credit for 
having brains. Perhaps you will work out a 
code which in your eyes appears perfect, but 
when your letter reaches the censor, with a sigh 
of disgust, he will commit it to the waste basket, 
at the same time remarking: "Won't they ever 
get something new, or give us credit for some in- 
telligence?" What appears new to you is an 
old story with His Majesty the Censor. 

No doubt a field postal card, simi- 
lar to that used in the British Army, 
will be issued once a week. 

Lots of other information can be sent on this 
130 



On Landing in France 131 

card. We did it. Think it out. Cannot tell 
you how, because perhaps it will give the game 
away. 

Remember that your official address will be: 
"Somewhere in France.'* 

We often used a method in our letters to give 

the folks at home a tip as to what part of the Hne 

we were at. It worked just once, then the censor 

landed on us like a ton of bricks. 

This was the method : Censor Won»t 

Fall for This 

Somewhere in France. 

Dear Brother: 

Received yoiu: letter and parcel. Am in fine 

health, etc., etc. 

Arthur Raymond received a surprise. Bertha 

wrote to him and everything is all right again, 

etc., etc. 

Your loving brother, 

John. 

Put in a name and sentence that has no meaning 
to the addressee. 

By using the first letter of each word, the sen- 
tence *' Arthur Ra3miond received a surprise" 
spells ** Arras,** the point where we were stationed. 

So don't try anything like this; it won't 
work. 



132 First Call 

Don't take a needle and pierce certain letters 
to spell out a sentence — the censor will get wise, 
with his eyes shut. 

The only safe way to beat the censor is not to 
try. * ' Cuss ' ' him as much as you wish — he doesn ' t 
care, though it may temporarily relieve your 
feelings. But do not express your opinion of him 
in a letter, because that letter will disappear. 

Eve.ry week an envelope will be issued, in which 
you are allowed to write of family and private 
matters. This letter escapes the regimental censor 
but is liable to be censored at the base. If you 
abuse the privilege extended to you in the issue 
of this special envelope, it will not be long before 
you are caught. You will not be the only suffer- 
er; perhaps the issue of these envelopes to your 
regiment will be discontinued for six months. It 
happened to us. (No, I was not the culprit.) 

Do not try to smuggle letters through by giv- 
ing them to the wounded or to men going on leave, 
because they are liable to search, and it will go 
hard with them, and with you too, if the letter is 
found. 

The important thing to remember is that the 
enemy is liable to profit through your effort to 
smuggle information and evade the censor. 



On Landing in France 133 

Your platoon officer generally is the officer who 
censors your letters. Do not try to get back at 
him by writing a letter home, telling the folks what 
an awful dub you have for a platoon commander. 
He might not say anything about it, but he may 
do something. 

In your letters don't dwell on the fact that you 

are a wonderful soldier and deserve immediate 

promotion. You will never get it by this method. 

Sammy, who is unfamiliar with 

Interpreters 
French, will be interested to know that 

he will see many interpreters in France. Those 

of the French army are divided into three classes, 

those of the first class ranking as captains, of the 

second class as first lieutenants, the third class as 

second lieutenants. 

These interpreters may be easily recognized by 
a blue velvet band worn on the cap, the insignia 
of their rank above this band, and a blue velvet 
gorget. On the cap and gorget appears a gold 
laced olive leaf. The buttons on their blouses 
are marked with a sphinx. 

When a man lands in France he 

_ . . Souvenirs 

IS naturally curious and wants to 
see everything the first day. He wants to go im- 
mediately "up the line,'' get into the trenches, 



134 First Call 

see the artillery in action, etc. Everything 
he sees assumes a great value. This is espe- 
cially true of souvenirs. A recruit will load 
himself with shell heads, dud bombs, nose 
caps, etc., and cart them around for weeks, 
adding weight to his already heavy load and 
increasing the misery and discomfort of the 
long march. Then he gradually gets wise and 
throws them away, one by one. If he will only 
consider the fact that there is no chance of taking 
or sending these souvenirs home (because no ord- 
nance is allowed out of France), and also realize 
that after carrying them for months they will 
be confiscated at the sailing points, he will soon 
realize that souvenirs are a lot of worthless junk 
and will treat them accordingly. 

On the very day he lands Sammy 
should paste this maxim in his tin 
hat:— "Don't Waste.'' 

Do not waste rations, ammunitions, equipment, 
etc. Remember you will pay for it after the war. 

Forget that old silly phrase, "The Govern- 
ment is rich." 

Every tin of meat, biscuit, loaf of bread, tin 
of jam, every bullet, bomb, rifle, bayonet, every 
piece of equipment you throw away or destroy, 




STEEL HELMET OR TIN HAT 



135 



136 First Call 

means that the war will last longer and that you 
and your folks at home will pay for it in good 
hard cold cash. 

Burying ammunition beneath the straw in your 
billet, or in a front Hne trench, to save you the 
trouble of carrying it on a march, is an old stunt, 
but remember this offense is punishable by death, 
and when you are lined up against a wall, with a 
firing squad of twelve men in front of you, it will 
be too late to be sorry. 

As soon as your shrapnel-proof 

The "Tin Hat" . ^ u^- -u ^ m v • 11 ^ • 

helmet, or tm hat, as it is called, is 

issued to you, see that it fits. In wearing the 
steel helmet, the strap should be tight. The 
best way is to have the strap pass between 
the chin and the lower lip; this method keeps 
it tight and also allows you to eat without re- 
moving the strap. If no cloth covering for the 
helmet has been issued, before entering the front 
line trench or when in range of enemy snipers, 
plaster the outside of the helmet with mud. 
This prevents your helmet shining in the sim- or 
moonlight and it may save your life. 

Though you are wearing a helmet, take no 
chances in unnecessarily exposing yourself; re- 
member that a helmet will not turn a rifle bullet — 



On Landing in France 137 

it is only protection against spent bullets and 
fragments of shell. 

A helmet also makes a good wash basin in an 
emergency. 

In marching, when out of range of the enemy, 
hang your helmet by the strap over your bayonet 
scabbard — this will take the weight from your 
head and the march will be easier. Take your 
khaki handkerchief, tie a knot in each corner, and 
wear it on your head; this will protect you from 
the sun's rays or prevent your catching cold. 

Never mark your helmet with your brigade, 
regiment, or company numbers or letters because, 
if killed or captured, this informs the enemy about 
the identity of the troops opposite them. 

In France, while the enemy is shelling, a practi- 
cal joke is often played on recruits, which is bad 
for his nerves. It is engineered thusly: If a steel 
helmet is hit with metal or a stone, a deafening 
ringing in the ears of the wearer is produced. It 
is nearly as bad as if you placed a dishpan over 
your ear, and then hit it a resounding whack with 
a club. The joker waits with a stone or fragment 
of shell in his hand, until he hears a German shell 
coming over which will burst in your vicinity. 
As the shell bursts he hits you on the "tin hat" 



138 



First Call 



with the missile in his hand. You are sure you 
have been hit, and no doubt will roll over, yelling 
for stretcher bearers. Then there is a good laugh 
at your expense. But do not try this joke on 
anyone because the victim really suffers from the 
shock to his nerves. 

Petrol and Two little bits of information should 

French Time ^^ added before this chapter is closed. 
In France gasoline is universally 
called petrol. 

In France the day is not divided into a.m. and 
P.M.; the hours run from one to twenty-four. 
For one o'clock in the afternoon we would say 
I P.M., while in France it would be known as the 
13th hour, etc. 



CHAPTER XVII 

SPIES 

nPHE most deadly menace in this war is the 
^ German spy. Every hour of the day or 
night, whether on active service, or leave, even 
though wounded, keep this fact constantly before 
you: 

*'The eyes and ears of the enemy are all about 
you." 

Don't discuss military matters anywhere. 

Trust no one with important military informa- 
tion, not even your best friend or bunkie. When 
spies are caught you are surprised to find that 
they were the ones you least suspected. Thou- 
sands of them are never found out. 

Avoid talking of events ''up the line," in public 
places, especially so in estaminets (French saloons) 
or public conveyances. Look with suspicion on- 
the affable stranger who makes your acquaintance 
and wants to buy you a drink, a dinner, or smokes. 

139 



140 First Call 

Do not converse with civilians about military 
matters, even if they are, or appear to be French. 

Beware of making the acquaintance of strange 
soldiers from other regiments; when they broach 
military matters, shut up like a clam. 

Keep away from lewd women; this is one of the 
greatest lures used by the enemy and one of the 
most successful. 

Never carry on your person papers which con- 
tain important military information. Commit 
this information to memory and burn the papers. 
Do not tear them up and throw the pieces away; 
they can be pieced together. The German spy 
system is almost perfect. During your service in 
France this fact will be demonstrated to you. 

Never trust a German, Germany is our enemy 
and we are out to lick them. 
„ ^ ^ Keep your mouth shut and your eyes 

Be a Good 

Listener and ears open. 

Be a good listener and a poor talker. 

Every man who has actually served on the 

Western Front will endorse the above warning. 

I could, space permitting, cite many examples 

which would illustrate the necessity of alertness, 

but two will suffice, the first showing the danger 

of associating, trusting, and imparting_ military 



spies 141 

information to strange soldiers, although in 
friendly uniforms, while the other points out the 
danger of soldiers associating too intimately with 
civilians. 

At a certain part of the line on the Western 
Front, a battalion in the British Army (I will not 
give its name and number, because the incident 
I am going to teU, even yet rankles in its memory) 
was to take over a strange sector of the line. In 
taking over new trenches, a new battalion is 
usually furnished with guides from Brigade 
Headquarters. These guides meet them at the 
entrances to the communication trenches, and con- 
duct them to the front line, where they turn over 
orders and give warnings of dangers and low spots 
and points from which the enemy are liable to 
attack. 

This night in question was black and stormy, 
the rain beating into the faces of the men. The 
officers as well as the men were heartily disgusted 
and * ' fed up' ' with ever3rthing in general. Arriving 
at the commimication trench which led to the front 
line, they were met by an officer in the uniform 
of a captain of the English Army, who stated that 
he had been detailed from British Headquarters 
to conduct the — th Battalion to their station in 



142 First Call 

the front-line trench. On account of the weather 
conditions, the battaHon was behind its schedule, 
therefore the captain did not question this of- 
ficer, as he should have done, but accepted him 
as a bona-fide guide. The guide did very little 
talking; in fact, he was a very good listener. The 
colonel was a good talker, and a poor listener, 
and readily answered questions which, under 
ordinary conditions, would have aroused the sus- 
picion of the least intelligent private. In fact, 
he gave the history of that battalion from its 
organization to the present moment. Upon ar- 
riving in the fire trench the guide, in a very mili- 
tary and proper manner, turned over the station 
to the battalion and then told the colonel that a 
large wiring party of the Royal Engineers was to 
go out "in front" that night to repair damage in 
the barbed wire. Therefore the colonel was to 
issue orders to all sentries along his sector of trench 
that there should be no challenging or firing, as 
the wiring party, while working, would be within a 
few feet of the trench. 

The colonel accordingly issued this order. 
Then the guide informed the colonel that he him- 
self was in charge of said wiring party, and that 
he was going out ''in front" to look over the 



Spies 143 

ground before the Royal Engineers went "over 
the top.'* He also told the colonel (to make his 
story more plausible) that the party of engineers 
had been detailed from the battalion on his right, 
and that they would leave the fire trench through 
a sap leading from the neighboring battaHon's 
trench. 

With typical German cunning and efficiency, 
no little detail was overlooked to insure the suc- 
cess of the scheme. Then the guide, receiving a 
''Best of Luck " from the colonel, crawled ''over 
the top" of the trench, out through a sap under 
the wire, to a listening post, and disappeared into 
the rain and darkness of No Man's Land. 

Upon receipt of the order not to fire or challenge, 
the sentries were tickled to death, being tired, 
sleepy, and hungry; they appreciated the few 
hours of rest in front of them, which to their 
minds, although a little strange, still appeared to 
be very ' ' cushy. " A soldier, as a rule, when he has 
an easy time on guard, will not inquire too deeply 
into the reasons therefor. 

In about twenty minutes' time the sentries could 
hear men working in their wire, a few feet in front 
of them. Occasionally a sharp twang would ring 
out on the night air. This would elicit from some 



144 First Call 

sentry a caustic remark as to the brains and abil- 
ity of Royal Engineers in general, or the same 
sentry would calculate that in this certain part of 
the line, Fritz across the way, was either dead 
or had not as yet received a copy of the Hymn 
of Hate, otherwise that "twang" would be an- 
swered by rifle or machine-gim fire directed at the 
working party. 

About an hour before *' Stand To*' was passed 
down the trench, all work on the wire ceased. 
Then daylight. The sentries nearly dropped dead 
with surprise to see in front of them the barbed 
wire horribly cut up; stakes were pulled up and 
"gooseberries" missing; in fact, the wire was 
demolished more than could be accomplished by 
an hour's intense bombardment from the German 
artillery. 

Then the colonel awoke to the fact that this 
amiable officer, who had so efficiently guided them 
into the fire trench, was nothing more or less than 
a German spy, disguised in the uniform of an 
English captain. This spy was dressed in the 
uniform of an English officer, which no doubt was 
secured from some prisoner or wounded officer, 
and had crawled from the German trenches over 
No Man's Land and entered our trenches. This 



spies 145 

could be very easily accomplished by falling in the 
rear of a returning working party. After telling 
the colonel to pass the word down the line not to 
fire or challenge, he had left our trenches, gone 
over to the German lines, and conducted back to 
our wire a German working party which had effec- 
tively accomplished his object. 

The destruction of this wire necessitated large 
working parties from the colonel's battalion 
going out in front on the following night to repair 
the damage. This was part of the German 
scheme, because, knowing that the working party 
would go out, it was a simple matter to turn rifle 
and machine-gun fixe on them. It took three 
nights to repair the damage with this result — a 
very heavy casualty list. 

In the region of La Bassee an inci- 

Everyday 

dent occurred, which should strongly Occurrences 
point out to soldiers the folly of 
mingling with civilians and imparting military 
information. 

For several weeks the Germans had constantly 
shelled this particular town, but still there were 
civilians who disregarded this shelling and re- 
fused to leave, preferring to run their stores 
and estaminets at a great profit, even though 



146 First Call 

they incurred a great risk of personal injury. 
Occasionally a shell would demolish a store, but 
this did not seem to ''phase" its competitors. To 
them it simply meant additional trade and profit. 
One particular estaminet (saloon) seemed to be 
charmed; shells never came within a hundred 
yards of it, even though the surrounding houses, 
billets, etc., were razed to the ground. This place 
was run by a Swiss and his family. The soldiers 
used to gather there — in fact, they made it a sort 
of a club, drinking the red wine and French beer, 
and discussing military matters. This family, 
especially a blond-haired daughter about twenty- 
four years old, were very cordial to the soldiers; 
she waited on them, catered to them, cooked for 
them, always making the place as homelike as 
possible. Troops leaving this part of the line, 
upon meeting incoming troops, would recommend 
this favorite estaminet to them. In fact, it was 
a regular soldiers' home. 

This went on for months and still the place was 
never hit by a shell. It was uncanny to the sol- 
diers and when a general bombardment was in 
order, soldiers, who were off duty, would repair 
to this estaminet, believing it to be a safety zone. 
A certain English sergeant was very much in 




Q 



s 

0) 



spies 147 

love with the blond-haired daughter of the pro- 
prietor of this estaminet and, to all appearances, 
she seemed to return his affection. They had 
many secret meetings. Suddenly one morning 
a provost guard took over the place, arrested the 
civilian inmates, and took them to the Base, where, 
a few days later, they were shot as spies. This 
fact came out in a manner that I cannot describe 
here. Anyway it will suffice to say the Swiss 
family were spies in the pay of Germany. In 
fact, the place was thoroughly searched; under- 
ground telephone wires were found leading from 
the estaminet to the German lines. This tele- 
phone system must have been laid a year or two 
previous to the declaration of war. The Swiss, 
by being genial and friendly with the soldiers and 
buying them liquor, had sometimes gotten them 
to speak of military happenings, and had gained 
valuable information for the enemy. For months 
the owners of the estaminet had been in constant 
communication with the German lines. 

All this accounts for the fact that German shells 
never hit the place. Two days after the family 
had been executed, the Germans opened up with 
an hour's intense bombardment on the village, 
and no less than twenty-seven shells landed on 



148 First Call 

or near this estaminet. It was completely effaced. 
So, Sammy, during your stay in the trenches of 
France, 

Beware of spies. Trust No One. 



CHAPTER XVIII 

SHIRT-HUNTS 

TN the English Army the men in the trenches 
have given the nickname of "cooties" to 
body Hce. This is a repulsive subject, but it must 
be faced by *' Sammy." It is only a matter of a 
short time after arriving in France and getting 
up into the line, especially where the men have 
to sleep in billets, before the soldier is covered 
with vermin. No matter how clean he tries to keep 
himself, it wiU be impossible to avoid "cooties," 
because he has to occupy billets which have been 
used for three years or more, by thousands of 
troops. In these billets you will find old straw, 
perhaps over a foot deep, which has been ground 
fine b}^ constant sleeping and walking. This 
straw and the walls of the billets are infested with 
lice. Of course, the straw can be removed and 
binned, but still the "cooties" will be in evidence. 
They simply shift their quarters to the walls of 

149 



150 First Call 

the billet. In fact, the only way to rid a billet 
of lice is to set fire to it and burn it to the ground, 
but there is not much sense in doing this because 
you then will have no billet to sleep in. It is a 
case of choosing between two evils: either put 
up with the lice or sleep in the open. 

"Cooties" ^^^ ^^^ ^^^ believe it, but, reptd- 

sive and horrible as it sounds, it will 
be only a short while before you become used 
to ''cooties" and "carry on" as usual. In the 
trenches several methods are used to keep this 
nuisance in check, but I will have to admit that 
the only way to get rid of cooties permanently is 
to be wounded and sent to a hospital where 
there are no "cooties." 

I will personally recommend the following 
methods, though I will not guarantee their effec- 
tiveness. StiU, by using these, great satisfaction 
will be afforded by the revenge wreaked on your 
ever present though uninvited guests. 

A very handy weapon can be made in the fol- 
lowing way: Take a piece of hardwood, about eigh- 
teen inches long; whittle it to the thickness of an 
ordinary meat skewer; polish it with sand or a 
piece of stone, so that it is smooth and will not 
splinter. Keep this weapon or "scratcher," as 



Shirt-Hunts 151 

they call it, constantly with you. An easy way of 
carrying it, while in the trenches or on the march, 
is to stick it in the right puttee (or legging), where 
it will always be handy and within reach. 

Several firms advertise insect powders, but it 
is wiser to disregard these ads and spend your 
money for smokes or something else, which will 
afford a return for the money expended. 

When clean underwear is issued, never put it 

on without fir^ taking a bath — that is, if you are 

lucky enough to have bathing facilities present. 

I would advise taking over, or having the folks 

send to you, a few cakes of strong carbolic soap. 

Use this soap in bathing, and you will find the 

"cooties" will avoid you for a few hours. 

*' Cooties" multiply very rapidly, 
I r ' ' . Great 

therefore it is not much use trying to Multipliers 

exterminate them after they are good 

and healthy. The only effective way is to get 

them in the egg. Light a candle and pass the 

seams over the flame, being careful not to burn 

the garment. This will destroy the eggs of new 

"cooties." 

Once again copying our English brothers, I 

will cite a common method which, in some cases, 

proved effective. Of course this method cannot 



152 First Call 

be used by the individual soldier, but the medical 
officer may find this formula very useful. 

Where water facilities for bathing are under 
direct supervision of the Medical Department, it 
is recommended that the water be treated in the 
following manner: Use N. C. I. dusting powder. 
This consists of 96 parts naphthalene, 2 parts creo- 
sote, and 2 parts iodoform. The individual soldier 
may compound the following mixture: crude 
mineral oil, 9 parts; ordinary soft soap, 5 parts. 
Add to this i part of water. Then carefully 
anoint the body from the neck down, being sure 
that no parts are neglected. Do not put it on 
the head or in the hair, because "cooties" do 
not infest the head. Undergarments may also be 
dipped in a 10 per cent, solution of naphthalene 
and sulphur, or in gasoline or benzine, but this will 
give the garments an unsavory odor, which may, 
to the fastidious man, be worse than ''cooties" 
(though I doubt it). 

There are other methods, such as using disin- 
fectants on clothes, but these are not for Sammy, 
as facilities are usually lacking. 

As I have said, it will be impossible to devise a 
method which will permanently rid you of these 
pests. The best advice that I can give is to con- 



Shirt-Hunts 153 

stantly engage in a ''shirt-hunt.'* Pick them off 
by hand; the thumb-nail is the weapon most 
commonly used in the trenches against ''cooties." 
Strong pressure, exerted at the psychological (?) 
moment, will do the trick. After all, the real and 
only tip is to grin and bear them. 



CHAPTER XIX 

RATIONS IN FRANCE 

n^HE question of feeding in the field is one of 
^ the most important factors to be reckoned 
with in this war. According to Napoleon, **An 
army travels on its stomach." 

A soldier is himian, of course. Place him in the 
front-line trench, wet, cold, covered with mud, 
his belly empty, and he becomes indifferent, — ^he 
does not care whether he is killed or wounded. If 
he is killed, he is but of the mess; if he is wounded, 
why that means home and three squares a day. 

But if that same soldier has a warm feeling in 
the region of his stomach, and has to let out a 
couple of holes in his belt, although he may be 
cold otherwise and muddy and uncomfortable, he 
says to himself: **The people at home cannot 
control the weather and they are doing all they 
can to make me comfortable, therefore it is up to 
me to go 'orer the top' and hand Fritz what is 

154 



Rations in France 155 

coming to him — with a couple of extra jabs for 
good measure," so he "carries on" with the last 
ounce of his strength and the last drop of his 
blood. That is soldier psychology, as any veteran 
will tell you. 

Perhaps the draftman after entering a concen- 
tration camp has good reason to growl about his 
rations. They are liable to be below the standard. 
This is to be expected, at first, because everything 
is topsy-turvy, and it is an enormous task to 
properly handle hundreds of thousands of men 
at a few months' notice. 

He undoubtedly thinks: "Well, if they cannot 
feed me in the United States, what is going to 
happen to me when I get over in France?" This 
sounds very logical but it is wrong. When the 
American soldier reaches France he'll be very 
agreeably surprised to find that he will be at least 
thirty per cent, better fed than he was at home. 
He will also find that it is much easier to soldier 
on active service than it is to endure the mono- 
tony and hard grind of a five or six months' 
training period at an army camp in the United 
States. 

In France there is always something new to 
occupy the mind, and you have that feeling of 



156 First Call 

confidence based on the knowledge that at last 
you are a real soldier and are accomplishing 
things. 

While in the United States the draftman will 
have nothing to do with the handling of his own 
rations, except on short drills and a few special 
occasions. The worry and responsibility are 
left to the company cooks, but on his arrival in 
France, he will be disappointed and pretty well 
jolted to find that the rations are issued indivi- 
dually, and that the soldier himself is responsible 
for their care and preservation. 

Our Allies in this war learned, through hard 
experience, many new and valuable lessons. The 
United States is entering the war three years 
later, and we should profit by the experience and 
mistakes of the other nations. 

In many instances the mode of handling troops, 
supplies, rations, etc., will be copied from the 
French and English. The rationing of the Eng- 
lish army is practically perfect, and the systems 
used by them will no doubt be used by Uncle 
Sam, — therefore, I will briefly run over the methods 
used in issuing, handling, and bringing up rations, 
as personally observed by me, while soldiering in 
the English Army. 



Rations in France 157 

Rations are transported by the Army 

. A n r^ • • Rationing 

Service Corps, or A. S. C as it is called, behind the 

Every twenty-four hours this corps Lines and in 
, . . , , . , RestBiUets 

brings up rations to the brigade quarter- 
master. The brigade quartermaster divides them 
into lots according to the numerical strength of 
the commands to which they will be issued. 

The regimental or battalion quartermasters are 
notified to draw rations for their units. These 
quartermasters notify the officers in command of 
companies, batteries, etc. These officers in turn 
notify their quartermaster sergeants, and these ser- 
geants, with details of men to help them, report 
to the regimental or battalion quartermasters 
and receive the rations for their commands. The 
rations are then brought to the company's stores. 
In each platoon of a company, a non-commissioned 
officer, usually a corporal, assisted by two other 
men, (in addition to his other duties), is detailed 
to draw and issue rations for his platoon. The 
rations are then brought to the billets of the re- 
spective platoons and the issue to the individual 
soldier takes place. 

Rations such as fresh meats, tea, coffee, flour, 
etc., are turned over to the company cooks by 
the company quartermaster sergeants, the in- 



158 First Call 

dividual soldier doing no cooking, just handling 

*'dry" rations, as they are termed. These "dry" 

rations generally consist of fresh bread, tinned 

meats, jams, onions, cheese, tinned butter, raisins, 

biscuits or ''hardtacks," pickles, etc. 

After getting into the front-line 
Rations in . .. , -n ^ i 

Front-Line trench the soldier s menu will take a 
Trench tumble, because great difficulty will be 

experienced in bringing up hot food, especially if 
the Germans are bombarding. Each soldier car- 
ries what is called emergency or "iron rations." 
These consist of a tin of corned beef, four hardtacks, 
Oxo cubes (concentrated beef tablets), dry tea, 
and a little sugar. Emergency rations are only 
to he used in dire necessity ^ when the regular ration 
issued cannot be brought up. 

Under cover of darkness, generally around 
9 o'clock, the company transport, which consists 
of fifty men, mules, horses, and limbers, brings up 
the rations to the entrance of the communication 
trenches. At this point the rations are turned 
over to the company sergeant-major, who, with 
a detail, sorts the rations into platoon lots. The 
detail is then divided into four squads, each now 
becoming a "ration party." It is their duty to 
carry these rations through the communication 



Rations in France 159 

trenches to the front-line trench. At this point 
the squads separate and distribute rations to 
sections and platoons, according to their stations 
in the front line. 

At these stations the rations are received by the 
platoon or section non-commissioned officer, who 
distributes them to the individual men. In the 
rear of the communication trenches, generally in 
a shell-destroyed village, the company cooks are 
stationed in a billet; here they cook the meals 
and are very careful to screen all light and smoke 
from their fire, otherwise enemy artillery fire 
would be drawn with resulting damage and 
casualties. At night each platoon or section non- 
commissioned officer details men to act as mess 
orderlies for the ensuing day. The mess orderlies 
report to the cooks about half an hour before each 
meal; the cooks then divide the cooked rations 
into lots, according to the numerical strength of 
the platoons or sections. The rations are placed 
in oval-shaped iron pots called "dixies." These 
"dixies" have two handles, one on each side, 
through which two wooden stakes can be passed. 
Two men place these stakes on their shoulders, and 
the "dixie" is carried into the front line trench. 
A metal cover hermetically seals a "dixie," thus 



i6o First Call 

preventing the contents from cooling or becoming 
filled with mud or dirt from the walls of the trench. 
The breakfast generally consists of one slice of 
bacon per man and about a quart of hot tea. 
Roast beef, mutton, and occasionally fish, are on 
the bill of fare for dinner. But stew or "slum," 
as it is called in the American army, is issued more 
often than anything else. 

About 4.30, hot tea again reaches the front-line 
trench. Sometimes the Germans establish a bar- 
rage of fire across the communication trenches, 
preventing rations from coming up, and the soldier 
in the front line has to economize accordingly. 
But on the whole the food is excellent and there 
is plenty of it. 



CHAPTER XX 



QINCE the United States entered the Great 
^ War there has been a great deal of talk about 
aeroplanes, — what they can do, how they can do 
it, and why they are necessary to win the war. 
The average civilian has a very vague idea of the 
actual w^ork of the aeroplane in the field. A vision 
of thousands of aeroplanes in the air dropping 
bombs all over Germany is constantly before his 
eyes. 

I do not intend to go into the theory of aero- 
planes, but a few pointers on their actual work, 
as personally witnessed by me, while serving 
on the Western Front in France, may help 
"Sammy" to get a better idea of their real value. 
To be safe from anti-aircraft guns, an aeroplane 
must fly very high. The plane travels at a 
high rate of speed, and objects on the earth, 
such as houses, woods, rivers, roads, columns of 

'I i6i 



1 62 First Call 

moving troops, supply trains, etc., appear very 
minute. 

To cause serious damage to any of 
Bom ing roi^^j^g above objectives, a dropping bomb 
must make a direct hit, — that is, the 
bomb must strike the object, or within a few feet 
of it. Taking into consideration the various cur- 
rents of air between the aeroplane and the earth, 
and the high rate of speed at which the plane must 
travel, it is evident that it is very difficult to make a 
direct hit. In fact the chance of success is about 
one in a hundred. 

To get a concrete idea of the difficulty, mount 
a Fifth Avenue bus travelling about fifteen miles 
per hour. Take an ordinary buckshot, look over 
the top of the bus, 'and try to drop this shot 
so that it will hit or even drop within two or three 
inches of a match on the road. After trying this 
about one hundred times you will appreciate 
the airman's little job when he tries to make a 
direct hit with a bomb. 

Aeroplanes in this war are the eyes oj 

You must remember that during 
all bombardments the artilleryman, who actu- 
ally fires the gun, seldom, if ever, sees the 




u. &u, 



British Airmen. 





■ iliWMii.. * ! ^mxmm^ JkWMi:^- ' • 


r '- 


II ■ 


-.• : B^^ -^^r- *S|P'»,rf,« ■• 




■■I^^mhhhHJI 


H||H^ 


^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^IHHBHiilfetiiii^Hfttts^teiiis^a 


H 



u. & u. 

German Dirigible Returning to Potsdam after Reconnoitering Trip. 




u. & u. 



At U. S. Aviation Training Camp. 



**The Sky-Fighters* • 163 

object fired at, and is seldom able to observe 
the effect of his shell. In other words, the big 
guns miles behind the lines are practically blind. 
Of course, there are observation posts in the 
trenches, in trees, in buildings, and on high spots 
of the ground. Observation officers, with power- 
ful glasses, are stationed in these posts, and through 
telephonic connection are in constant touch with 
their batteries. Every battery has what is called 
a range chart. Distinctive objects in the land- 
scape within the zone of fire covered by this 
particular battery, are noted on this chart, each 
object being numbered with its range. The 
Observation Officer, or O. O., as he is called, 
telephones to the battery the number and range 
of the object to be fired at, and the number of 
rounds to be fired. Now these 0. O.'s can only 
observe and direct the fire upon objects which 
they can actually see, therefore it is up to the 
aeroplanes to reconnoiter and search out enemy 
guns, moving troops, redoubts, trenches, etc., 
which are obscured from the sight of the Obser- 
vation Officer. To do this it is necessary in many 
instances to fly over and behind the enemy lines. 
Now the question arises: Does the aeroplane 
have to return to the battery with this informa- 



1 64 



First Call 



tion, or are there ways in which it can communi- 
cate the intelligence to the battery, while in flight ? 
Sometimes, if the aeroplane is near the battery 
and it observes a fire objective, the information is 
written in code on a slip of paper and then enclosed 
in a small metal tube. Swooping low, the aero- 
plane drops this tube in the near vicinity of the 
battery, where it can be readily secured by one 
of the artillerymen. Each battery has a code 
prearranged with its air observer, and there are 
men detailed to watch every move of the observ- 
ing plane, through powerful field glasses or tele- 
scopes. Signals are sent by the aeroplane in 
its flight. Movements of the plane, — a spiral in 
the air, "looping the loop," describing the fig- 
ure eight, and other eccentric maneuvers may 
all convey instructions, as per prearranged 
code, for the battery to open fire on the enemy 
objective. 

Frequently information is transmitted through 
wireless apparatus, with which nearly all aero- 
planes are equipped. 

Another and very commonly used method of 
conveying information is by bursts of fire from 
the machine gun which the airman carries. The 
Morse telegraph code is used, and the observer in 



•*The Sky-Fighters'* 165 

the aeroplane makes the dots and dashes by firing 
his machine-gun in a certain way. 

The aeroplane is also very useful for 

. -. ... . , 1 Aeroplane 

raidmg munition plants, arsenals, ammu- ^^^ 

nition dumps, railroads, supply trains, 

and moving bodies of troops, but, as stated before, 

these are very difficult to hit, unless the aeroplane 

flies very low, and in doing so it incurs great risk. 

The practical uses of the aeroplane therefore 
may be rated in value as follows: 

First — ^Artillery observation. 

Second — Scouting. 

Third — Bombing raids. 

The aeroplane has eliminated the surprise 
attacks, flank movements, and strategy of former 
wars. Now modern warfare means digging and 
living in ditches, hammering with artillery, try- 
ing to smash the other fellow. Armies may be 
compared to two heavyweights in the ring, tr3dng 
to wear each other down by showering blows on 
the body, all the fine foot work and **hit and get 
away ' ' methods being eliminated. The two armies 
on the Western Front are really nothing but two 
grindstones rubbing together. The one which 
wears away first will be the vanquished. If the 
Allies can secure and maintain the supremacy of 



i66 First Call 

the air and so blind the enemy artillery, the issue 
of the war will never be in doubt. But it will be 
a slow, tedious, and costly process. 
How to There are several ways of distin- 

Distinguish guishing the enemy aeroplanes from 

eropanes yQ^j. q^xi. I will give the two main 
ones that are ordinarily used by the soldier. 
If the plane is flying low enough it is a simple 
matter, because the enemy's planes have two 
black "iron crosses" on them, while on the bottom 
of the Allied planes are painted two rings, one 
within the other, thus resembling a red, white, and 
blue target. The French planes generally have 
the tricolor painted on the rudder. If the planes 
are flying too high to distinguish them, the soldier 
depends on the anti-aircraft guns, or "pom-poms," 
for his information. The Allied air shells give 
forth a white puff of smoke when exploding, while 
the German shells emit black smoke. If you see 
a plane being shelled (they nearly always are being 
shelled, though seldom hit), and the puffs of smoke 
are white, you immediately know it is a German 
aeroplane, because your own batteries are firing 
at it. If the puffs around the plane are black, 
it belongs to the Allies, because then German guns 

are attacking. 




©u. & u. 

Observation Post Built on Trees by British Troops. 




©u. & u. 



British Anti- Aircraft Guns (observer to right) 



••The Sky-Fighters'* 167 

At night it is very easy to tell when an aero- 
plane or airship is in your vicinity by the loud 
humming sound made by the motor. 

If an enemy plane is sighted while on the march 
in the daytime, and the order to halt is given, 
the troops should sit down and be careful not to 
move. Never look up at the plane, because white 
faces can be easily distinguished by the airmen. 

The esprit de corps of the airmen in 
the English army is wonderful. The ^"^ Airmen 
Royal Flying Corps has an unwritten 
law that no one man's deeds in this war will be 
exploited, but that the credit will reflect upon 
the whole corps. In isolated cases, where the 
Victoria Cross has been awarded to a flying man 
for conspicuous bravery, it has been necessary to 
bring this man's name before the public, but 
the announcement was neither made by the man 
himself nor the Royal Flying Corps. 

An airman must be a quick thinker, at all times 
ready to sacrifice his life; he must have daring 
and nerve and be perfect physically and mentally. 
I will relate an incident which illustrates the need 
of these qualities. No doubt by many readers of 
this book this incident will be remembered as 
happening in the earlier stages of the war. A 



1 68 First Call 

certain aviator of the Royal Flying Corps went on 
an air raid into Belgium; his objective was to 
bomb certain Zeppelin sheds. After a very dan- 
gerous flight these sheds were sighted. The Ger- 
mans, having received information that he was 
coming over, were ready for him. They sighted 
the English plane, and their anti-aircraft guns 
got busy, but this did not daunt the airman. He 
*' carried on" and, getting near the Zeppelin sheds 
in question, he decided to make a low swoop in 
order to bomb them. The fire from the German 
guns became so intense and shells were bursting 
so near him, that he knew that in a minute or so 
he and his plane would be crippled and brought 
to the ground. 

Then his nerve, daring, and quick thinking, 
came to the fore. He figured that he would be 
killed anyway, as there seemed no possible chance 
to escape the intense shellfire. So he worked 
tliis ruse: when a shell burst very near him, he 
made his plane swerve, drop, and describe queer 
evolutions in the air, giving the German gunners 
the impression that he had been hit. Their fire 
ceased immediately and they rushed toward the 
Zeppelin shed at which they figured the aero- 
plane would crash to the earth. Executing a 



u. &u. 



French Military Dirigible. 




U. &U. 



Captured German Fokker on Exhibition in Paris. 



**The Sky-Fighters'* 169 

*'nose dive," the aviator came within a few feet 
of the Zeppelin shed, then, righting his plane, he 
dropped a bomb which landed squarely on the 
roof of the shed, completely destroying the shed 
and the Zeppelin and many of the Germans who 
had rushed to witness his death. Then climbing 
rapidly, before the amazed Germans came to 
their senses, he was practically safe from their 
anti-aircraft guns. The aviator returned safely 
to the English lines. This was his comment on 
the published report of his wonderful achievement : 

"It was a case of doing something quickly to 
save my skin. It was very lucky indeed that 
my bomb landed on the shed. The thing itself 
was quite easy and simple and I succeeded only 
through the stupidity of the Germans." 

The fact of the matter was that this airman felt 
in his own heart and soul that he was going to 
be killed and he quickly determined that he would 
do as much damage as possible before they got 
him. Such is the caliber of the airmen. 




AIRPLANE MARKINGS 



CHAPTER XXI 

THE GUNS 

nnO the average civilian, artillery is a vague 
* term. He pictures monstrous guns, manned 
by sweating crews and belching forth fire, smoke, 
and shells into the enemy territory. He thinks 
it must be glorious to man a gun and watch your 
shells smash trenches, houses, dugouts, and woods. 
Then in fancy he sees the lighter guns, with cais- 
sons and limbers drawn by eight to sixteen power- 
ful horses, dashing madly over the open spaces, 
with shells bursting all around, and he glories in 
it all. But the artillery on the Western Front is 
very different from this highly-colored picture. 

Artillery fire is a science, and is directed and 
controlled by cool calculation of numbers, — in 
fact, it is more or less a mathematical problem. 
The gunner does sweat and he is under shell fire, 
but he seldom if ever sees the object fired at, or 
the direct effect of his bursting shell. 

170 



The Guns 171 

One of the most important things to 

Camouflage 
make the artillery efficient is proper 

concealment from enemy observation. This con- 
cealment, or camouflage, has in the last eighteen 
months of the war developed into a science. 
Batteries so conceal their guns by digging emplace- 
ments in the ground, and using wire screens and 
brushwood and painted canvas, that it is almost 
impossible for an observing enemy plane to locate 
them. Not only do the armies conceal their 
guns, but they camouflage the roads which lead 
to them, and over which ammunition, supplies, 
and troops are brought. High screens, painted 
to resemble the surrounding terrain, are nailed 
to posts along the edges of the road. Roads are 
also roofed with painted screens in such a clever 
manner that they defy enemy air observation. 
All work, to escape observation, must necessarily 
be done at night. If the job cannot be completed 
before daybreak, the workers, just before dawn, 
camouflage their work with screens, sandbags, 
dirt, sod, or branches of trees, according to the 
nature of the surrounding groimd, thus prevent- 
ing enemy aeroplanes from reporting their 
activities. 

A much-used and successful ruse of the artillery 



172 First Call 

is mounting dummy guns, so that they may be 
observed by enemy air scouts. The real guns 
are located either well in front, to the rear, or to 
the right and left of the dummy. The range of 
the camouflage gun is communicated to the 
enemy artillery, and it is only a short time before 
shells begin to drop around it, while the real guns 
are firing in comparative safety. 

Another ruse used by the artillery to deceive 
enemy gunners is worked in the following way : 

Several shells are "dudded'* or fixed so they 

will not explode and then are fired into the enemy 

lines, the time fuses having been set so as to give 

the enemy the impression that the batteries firing 

the shells are either very close or far away. The 

enemy artillerymen dig up these "duds, " examine 

the time fuses, and, as they think, get the exact 

range of the English battery. This trick has 

become time-worn, and only a green artilleryman 

will fall for it. Still there are a good many green 

artillerymen left in the German army, judging 

from some of the stunts that the British put 

over on them. 

On the Western Front the smaller 

Disposition caliber guns are nearest the firing line, 
of Batteries ^ ^ 

fifteen and eighteen pounders being 













^n 



© u. & u. 



Camouflage Protecting Italian Line of Communication. 




^-^".."^A 



©U. &U. 
Using a Cow for Camouflage. The Animal is Actually Standing on 
Roof of a Concealed Battery. 



The Guns 173 

first. They range back until the heaviest, the 9.2 
or fifteen-inch howitzer is reached, thousands of 
yards behind the front-line trench. Smaller guns 
are used for demolishing enemy barbed wire and 
shelling his troops with shrapnel, while the larger 
caliber shells are used for searching out dugouts, 
ammunition dumps, artillery emplacements, and 
for shelling villages, etc. 

The hardest work of the artillery is not during 
a bombardment, but after the infantry has 
pushed well into the German lines and consoli- 
dated the captured positions. Then the guns have 
to be moved up across shell-destroyed territory, 
the wheels often sinking up to the hub in gluey, 
sticky mud. Those of larger caliber have to be 
slowly snaked along, foot by foot, by huge tractors 
and caterpillar engines, and new concrete emplace- 
ments must be constructed. It is a giant task 
but somehow or other the artilleryman gets away 
with it. 

The French ''Seventy-five** is the The Famous 
finest gun of its caliber in this war. It"Seyenty-five" 
fires a shell 2.99 inches in diameter. One strong 
point in favor of the ''seventy-five" is that it does 
not have to be relayed, the recoil being so adjusted 
that it throws the gun back into its original firing 



174 r»'"st ^sill 

position. If pushed, the French "seventy-five** 
can fire thirty shots per minute. It is amusing 
to witness a battery of these guns in action. To 
the layman it is confusion, — French soldiers run 
around, carrying shells in their arms like babies, 
colliding with each other, and begging each other's 
pardon. You marvel at it, for in spite of all this 
seeming confusion, the old gun is rapidly spitting 
fire and pong, pong, ponging away. The " seventy- 
five'* is the French artilleryman's sweetheart. 
I have seen a Frenchman go up to a ''seventy- 
five," throw his arms around the gun, and kiss it 
several times, crooning to it as if it were his child 
and crying "Vive la France!" He looks upon 
this gun as the savior of France. 
The Fift - Fifteen-inch howitzers must be fired 
inch from sound-proof dugouts; in fact the 

owizer concussion is so great that tiles and 
plaster on the roof of nearby billets are loosened 
and fall after each discharge. The gun is gener- 
ally located in a wood, and immediately after 
it has been fired, for yards and yards around, the 
trees bend and wave as if a cyclone were passing. 
It is quite a shock to a soldier, peacefully wending 
his way down a road, to hear suddenly, fifty or 
sixty yards to his right or left, the 9.2 or fifteen- 




u. &u. 



Austrian Skoda Gun. 




LC, U. & U. 




u. & u. 

Famous "French Seventy-Five," often called "The Savior of France." 




(© U. .V 



British Howitzer. 



The Guns 175 

inch howitzer open up. The concussion is horrible. 

In fact, the soldier often thinks a German shell 

has registered a direct hit upon his steel helmet. 

Shrapnel is perhaps the most com- 

^ ^ ^ Shrapnel 

monly used word in this war. You 

hear it everywhere, you read it everywhere, but 

how many really know what it is? Even on the 

Western Front, if you should ask a soldier who 

is not an artilleryman, to describe shrapnel, his 

description would be vague and unconvincing. 

To the draftman, no doubt, "shrapnel" looms up 

like some monstrous giant, ready to gobble him 

up as soon as he lands in France. Forget it. 

Shrapners bark is worse than its bite. 

I have gone down a road in rear of the front line 
which was being shelled with shrapnel. In several 
instances, shrapnel balls kicked up the dust a 
few feet from me, but I came through without a 
scratch. If you will realize that you only occupy 
a very small place and that shrapnel has the 
remainder of France in which to scatter itself, it 
will be comparatively easy to figure out the chance 
of being hit. 

Shrapnel is a shell loaded with small steel or 
iron balls about the size of a marble, imbedded in 
rosin. It carries a time fuse and bursting charge. 



176 First Call 

This time fuse is "set'* before placing the shell 
in the breech of the gun, and can be timed so 
that the shell will explode over the desired spot, 
presuming, of course, that the range is correct. 

Upon firing, the empty shell case is left in the 
breech of the gun, just as in a shot gun. The 
complete shrapnel, time fuse, etc., make rapid 
revolutions (caused by the rifling of the gun) , and 
travel at a high rate of velocity. The flash from 
the fuse ignites the powder in the pocket and the 
diaphragm is driven forward, separating the pow- 
der pocket from the part containing the shrapnel 
balls. This separates the fuse body from the 
end of the shell casing while the forward end of 
the shell casing is greatly arrested. On leaving 
the casing, the diaphragm plows through the 
shrapnel balls, scattering them all around, the 
rosin in which they were embedded having been 
melted by the explosion and the friction caused 
by driving the shrapnel and rosin from the shrapnel 
casing. 

The exploding powder forms gases, which, issu- 
ing from the end of the casing, add still further 
velocity to the balls, making them destructive 
within a radius of sixty feet or more from the 
point where the shrapnel breaks. 



The Guns 177 

After the break or explosion of a shrapnel, the 
nose cap or head of the shell continues advancing, 
followed by the diaphragm, powder tube, the 
spread of shrapnel, etc. The casing, losing its 
momentum, falls to the ground. 

Shrapnel which breaks , properly does not 
scatter fragments of its shell, but if the time fuse 
is defective and the shell fails to break in the air 
it hits the ground, explodes on contact, and frag- 
ments of the steel shell are scattered in all direc- 
tions. Damage caused by flying fragments of 
steel shell is frequently credited to shrapnel, 
when really it is the result of the explosion of a 
H. E. or high explosive shell. 

In the fire trench digging shrapnel balls out 
of the parados or rear wall of the trench, is one of 
the indoor sports. It is easy to collect a pocket- 
ful of these missiles after a shrapnel bombardment. 
I have seen several bombardments which did not 
produce a single casualty in our ranks — so do not 
be afraid of Mr. Shrapnel when you hear him on 
the way. 

If a body of troops is suddenly Artille 

sheUed when marching down a field, Formation 
there is only one formation which "^ ®' "^® 
will prevent heavy casualties. If the troops 



178 First Call 

scatter and flee in all directions, many will be 
killed, and the command will be demoralized. 

We will say a battalion of four companies is 
marching in columns of fours down a road. Sud- 
denly enemy artillery opens up. Two sharp 
whistle blasts are blown from the head of the 
column. The leading company immediately goes 
to the right into a field on the side of the road, 
the second company going into the field on the 
left of the road, the third company taking the 
right of the road, and the rear company taking 
the left. Then the companies divide into platoons, 
the platoons into squads, dotting the fields like 
checkers on a checker board. The first four lie 
flat on the ground, the second four crouching as 
low as possible over them, the third four kneeling, 
and so on, the men remaining motionless. This 
is called artillery formation and on the Western 
Front is very effective against shell fire. 

A soldier under fire for the first 
Instinct for ^^^ ^^ naturally very nervous and 
agitated. He hears a shell come 
screaming over and instinctively runs to any 
object for protection, even if it is only the 
painted screen of a wall. This instinct for cover 
is very human. I have seen a man, during 



The Guns 179 

a heavy bombardment, crouch behind a bush 
on the roadside, apparently satisfied that he 
was safe. He did not seem to be very worried 
because he was smoking a cigarette. In the front- 
line trenches ponchos or waterproof sheets are 
spread during rainy weather across the top of the 
trench, the men getting under these sheets for 
shelter from the rain. They hear a shell coming 
over and there is a mad rush to get under this 
rubber protection, and the fellow who is left in 
the open feels very much afraid. 

It is really pitiful — this instinct for cover, but 
in some cases still it has its amusing side. There 
was a Jock of the London-Scottish who was 
bringing up through a communication trench a 
jar of rum for the morning's rum issue. The 
Germans opened up suddenly with a few "Whizz 
Bangs." The Scot tie ducked, and, keeping the 
rum in front of him, commenced to run forward 
until the voice of his sergeant arrested him with: 
"Put that jar behind you; do you want it to get 
hit?'* The jar of rum safely reached the front- 
line trench, and I suppose the sergeant took all 
the credit for his presence of mind. 

This instinct is so common that the new recruit, 
when he reaches the zone of fire, will actually 



i8o First Call 

imagine that every rifle and gun in the German 
Army is aimed at him. They are noL In fact 
the Germans do not know you have enlisted. 
Figure out the number of bullets that miss and the 
very few that hit, then shake hands with yourself 
and " carry on " the good work of " strafeing Fritz.*' 



CHAPTER XXII 

TRENCHES AND REST BILLETS 

THE average person has a very vague idea of 
the construction of a front-Une trench or 
fire trench. A short explanation may not be 
amiss. 

The front line or fire trench as it is 
known is the trench nearest to the ^ ^ ^^^ 
enemy. In front of the fire trench 
is a barbed- wire entanglement. This wire en- 
tanglement is constructed slightly lower than 
the parapet of the trench and about ten feet in 
front of it so that the sentries in the trenches may 
observe and fire over the top of the wire. The 
barbed wire-entanglement consists simply of 
stakes about three feet high, driven firmly into 
the ground to an average depth of twenty feet 
and about two to three feet apart. That is, the 
barbed-wire entanglement is about twenty feet 
deep and miles long. The wire is twined around 

i8i 



i82 First Call 

the stakes in such a manner that it is a physical 
impossibility for soldiers to go through the entangle- 
ment unless it has previously been blown up by 
shell fire or cut with wire cutters. 

The fire trench is divided into fire bays, the fire 
bay being the distance between two traverses. 
The average fire bay on the Western front is about 
thirty feet long. The traverse is merely a barri- 
cade in the trench reinforced with sandbags'^ and 
revetted with branches of trees to prevent the earth 
from caving in during wet weather and thus block- 
ing the trafiic in the trench. The traverses are 
used to prevent enfilading fire. Suppose a trench 
were built in a direct line without any barricades. 
If the Germans should take a section of the trench 
on the right or left it would be an easy matter foi 
them to mount a machine gun and wipe out these 
straightaway trenches for a distance of hundreds 
of yards (the range of the Vickers machine gun 
being 2800 yards) . In a traversed trench, however, 
enfilading fire is prevented. Furthermore, if a 
shell should burst in a straightaway trench it would 
wound or kill men on its right and left, according to 
the calibre and force of its explosion. But if a 
shell should drop into the fire bay where the trench 
is traversed it could only kill or wound the men 



DUGOUTS 



BOMB STORE MA Ch 




Diagram of Fire, Supp 

(No 



PLACEMENT 



ADVANCED FIRST AID DUCOi^''' 




nmunication Trenches. 

ale.^ 



Trenches and Rest Billets 183 

occupying that fire bay, the traverses protecting 
the men in the fire bays on the right and 
left. 

The front wall of the trench is called the para- 
pet, and the rear wall is called the parados. The 
top of the front wall of a fire trench or parapet is 
reinforced with two to four layers of sandbags. 
These sandbags are covered with dirt. Cleverly 
disguised loopholes for sniping and observation 
purposes are constructed in the front wall or para- 
pet of the trench. 

Saps or trenches run from the fire trench, clev- 
erly disguised, underneath the barbed wire and 
out in to No Man's Land and are known as listen- 
ing posts or bombing saps. 

At the bottom of the front wall of the fire bay 
is constructed a heavy wooden platform about two 
feet wide and about two and a half feet high, heav- 
ily reinforced underneath with sandbags or earth. 
This platform is called the fire step, and by standing 
on it soldiers at night can look over the top of the 
trench in the direction of the German lines, listen- 
ing and observing for undue activities on the part 
of the Germans in No Man's Land, such as working 
parties, wiring parties, bombing raids, reconnoiter- 
ing patrols. During an attack the soldier standing 



1 84 First Call 

in the fire step can rest his rifle on the parapet, 
mount a machine gun on it, and thus cover the 
advancing enemy with his fire. 

The average English trench is between six to 
eight feet deep while that of the German averages 
eight to ten feet. 

Dugouts with shell-proof covers and bomb stores 
are sometimes built into the front wall of the trench 
but are usually constructed in the parados, nearly 
always in the rear of a traverse, the traverse thus 
preventing enemy fire from enfilading the entrance 
of dugouts. 

The communication trenches generally join the 
front-line trench in the rear of the traverse for the 
same reason. Communication trenches are built 
in zigzag formation, the zigzag taking place of 
traverses and preventing enfilading fire In nearly 
all sectors of the line on the Western front com- 
munication trenches are about three feet wide and 
are used as ' ' one-way ' ' streets. These ' ' one-way ' ' 
streets prevent confusion in the relief of battalions 
in trenches. One communication trench is used 
for the entrance of troops and the other for the 
departure of troops. Runners or orderlies, how- 
ever, and stretcher-bearers, officers, bombers, and 
machine gunners can leave or enter without 



Trenches and Rest Billets 185 

regarding the ' ' one way ' ' rule. In all communica- 
tion trenches recesses are built in at certain in- 
tervals, in order that stretcher bearers, ration 
carriers, etc., may step into the recess while incom- 
ing or outgoing troops are passing. 

In the rear of the front line there generally runs 
a support trench. This, like the fire trench, is 
equipped with a fire step and barbed- wire entangle- 
ments. It is the trench from which supplies such 
as bombs, ammunition, food, etc., and also rein- 
forcements can be quickly supplied to the fire 
trench. It also affords a retreat for troops who 
have been driven out of the front-line trench. It 
is more or less of a fort. 

In the support and communication trenches, 
dugouts are built, some of them being used for 
advanced first-aid dressing stations. The comm.uni- 
cation trenches, some of them over a mile in length, 
run back into roads or villages. All communication, 
fire, and support trenches, etc., are named and at 
the entrance of same will be found guide posts in- 
scribed with the names and perhaps arrows point- 
ing and telling where the trench leads. You must 
understand that when you get into trenches you 
are more or less in a mystic maze and cannot ob- 
serve the surrounding country. Therefore you 



i86 First Call 

must rely on these sign posts to guide you to the 
desired points on the line. 

In entering a communication trench the soldier 
descends two or three steps or goes down a gradual 
incline until the trench has reached a depth of six 
feet or over. Immediately in the rear of these 
trenches there generally is a village where reserve 
troops are quartered, occupying bomb-proof cellars 
dug deep below ruined houses. These are rein- 
forced by sandbags and are supposed to be 
bomb-proof unless a shell registers a direct hit 
on them. 

A few hundred yards behind the front-line trench 
you usually find a road with steep banks on each 
side. In these banks are huge elephant dugouts 
twenty to thirty feet deep. These dugouts are 
supported by immense steel girders resembling 
ribs of an elephant; hence their name. One of 
these dugouts can comfortably accommodate thirty 
to fifty men and they connect with each other by 
imdergroimd passageways. Reserve troops gen- 
erally occupy the dugouts which are safe from 
machine gun and rifle fire and small caHber shells. 
Dressing stations are also located in these dugouts. 
When you come to a ruined village immediately 
behind the lines for the first time it seems only a 



Trenches and Rest Billets 187 

scene of destruction and desolation and it is hard 
to realize that the ground underneath is honey- 
combed with passageways and dugouts and that 
thousands of troops are quartered there out of 
sight and safe from enemy fire. 

Rest billets are simply villages or towns con- 
verted into quarters or billets for troops. Troops, 
when little or no shelling is going on, 
occupy the houses themselves, .but ,in ^.^^ 

case of shell fire they immediately 
retire to bomb-proof cellars dug beneath the vil- 
lage. Although they are called rest billets usually 
a soldier prefers to rest in a fire trench instead of 
doing the work he gets in the rest billets. They 
are simply headquarters for troops who are relieved 
from the front line or fire sector and while here, 
the men drill, repair roads, dig trenches, form work- 
ing parties, carrying-in parties, etc., and are gen- 
erally maids of all work for the men up the line. 
On the Western front a soldier must be kept busy, 
otherwise the time hangs on his hands and he gets 
into mischief with resulting lack of efficiency and 
discipline. While occupying rest billets a soldier 
must keep himself scrupulously clean, clean- 
shaven, his boots polished, equipment in apple pie 
order, and as "fit" as possible. The billets are 



1 88 First Call 

constantly swept out, and the soldiers are required 
to take baths and change their underwear, but in 
spite of these precautions the ** cootie" is ever 
present. "^ 



Y 



CHAPTER XXIII 

FROM MY TRENCH NOTE BOOK 

OU remember the old adage: 

''For want of a nail the shoe was lost; 
For want of a shoe the horse was lost ; 
For want of a horse the rider was lost ; 
For want of a rider the battle was lost ; 
For want of a battle, the nation was lost; 
And all for want of a horseshoe nail!" 



The moral of this ancient adage is as sound in 
this great war as in any of old. So before dis- 
cussing any more of the phases of life on the 
Western Front, I am going to give a few sugges- 
tions about little things that I learned through 
hard experience. 

When a soldier enters the fire, or front-line 

trench, he generally is very curious and wants to 

poke his nose into everything. Ke has a great 

desire to look ''over the top" of the parapet and 

get a glimpse of the German lines. Restrain this 

189 



I90 First Call 

curiosity, because it is liable to result in serious 
injury to yourself. You must remember that the 
Germans have a wonderfully efficient system of 
sniping and are always waiting for someone to 
expose himself. 

In the daytime never look ''over the 
H^^dD*^ top** unless you are ordered to do so. 
If your curiosity is so strong that it 
gets the better of your good judgment, take a 
peep through a periscope, but never bother or 
distract the sentry on duty at a periscope by ask- 
ing him questions. 

After looking through a periscope you will be 
disappointed, — all you will be able to see is 
barbed wire, an expanse of dirt, then the German 
barbed wire, and their trenches. These simply 
appear as thin white or yellow lines on the 
ground. 

To make a periscope of your own, take a small 
mirror, tightly tie a piece of string or wire around 
it. Insert the point of your bayonet between the 
string or wire and the back of the mirror. Sitting 
on the fire step, close up against the parapet, raise 
the mirror, tilting it slightly backward, imtil you 
get a view of No Man's Land. Do not keep the 
mirror up ver}^ long, especially if the sun is shining, 



From my Trench Note Book 191 

because the rays will attract German snipers and 
draw their fire, and perhaps a bullet will hit your 
bayonet and ricochet into the trench, wounding 
or killing someone. 

If fo^ any reason you have to fire or look "over 
the top" in the daytime, do it very quickly and 
duck as soon as possible. Never put your head 
up or fire twice in the same place, because you may 
have been spotted by an enemy sniper and he 
doubtless has his rifle aimed at that particular 
spot, waiting for your head to reappear. The 
first rule in trench warfare is, ^' Keep your head 
down, ** 

If while leaning against the parapet you place 
your rifle on the fire step, always be sure that 
the bayonet does not protrude "over the top.** 
(Bayonets are always kept fixed in the trenches.) 
It will reflect the sun*s rays and will draw enemy 
fire and perhaps deflect a bullet into the trench 
with evil results. 

Observe the same caution at night 
when on guard, with your head sticking ^^ ^^^ 
"over the top.'* I always found it 
best to lay my rifle flat on the top, with the muzzle 
pointing toward the enemy, the right hand resting 
on the small of the stock. If you adopt this 



192 First Call 

position, your rifle is handy and is aimed in the 

right direction, if you have to fire quickly. 

^ ^^. , Never throw rubbish, the remains of 

Rubbish 

your rations, or tin cans, out in front of 
your trench. This is Hable to cause ricochets ; the 
rations will not only feed the rats but, after decay- 
ing, will often cause disease. Remember it is a 
court-martial offense to do this. 

If for any reason you have to pass 

a low and exposed part of the para- 
pet, smashed by a German shell, bend low as you 
pass; do not think it is a sign of bravery to pass 
an opening standing up; it is only foolhardiness. 
Remember that German snipers nearly always 
have *'set" rifles aimed at these low spots, waiting 
for a victim to pass. If you are carrying a board, 
or anything that is long and clumsy through the 
trench, do not carry it so that the end sticks ''over 
the top"; be especially careful if during your trip 
you must pass a low or dangerous spot in the 
trench. The German snipers can see the end of 
the object you are carrying and of course realize 
that you must pass the dangerous place. They 
do not fire at the object you are carrying but aim 
their rifles or a machine gun at this point. By 
following the course of the moving object they 



From my Trench Note Book 193 

know just when you will expose yourself. Crack! 
a bullet gets you and then it is "Stretcher-bearers 
on the double*' ; you are either killed, wounded, or 
scared to death. 

At night, while in a trench, never 
light a match or show a light, because ^^ ughxs 
your sentries are on watch, with their 
heads "over the top.'* They will be silhouetted 
against the glare of your light, — firing results, and 
perhaps a casualty. It is a very grave offense 
to show a light at night in a trench. 

In the daytime, when heating or cooking rations, 
be careful not to make any smoke, as this will 
draw enemy shell fire. 

Also do not sing or make undue noise that 
can be heard in the enemy lines, because it 
will be followed by a few "Whizz-Bangs" or 
*' Minnies." 

Still another important caution : When you ar- 
rive in the sector immediately in rear of the fire 
and support trenches, do not use flash lights. 
Bear this in mind especially when going through 
communication trenches. Thirty to forty per 
cent, of the men on the other side buy these lights, 
as they are very useful behind the Hnes, but many 

a poor soldier has "Gone West," simply because 
13 



194 First Call 

someone was careless in showing a light within 

the fire zone. 

When starting a fire in a front line 
Fires ^ 

trench, cut up little dry sticks or 

shavings and use charcoal, if obtainable ; then you 

v/ill be safe from telltale smoke which will draw 

enemy fire. Be very careful of the use of charcoal 

in dugouts, especially if the ventilation is poor, 

because the charcoal will use up the oxygen in the 

air and cause severe headaches, or even death. 

^ , Remember that when you "take 

Beds ^ 

over" new billets after a march, it is 
up to you to secure a good "kip" or comfortable 
sleeping place. Don't be lazy; get busy, or else 
the other fellow will beat you to it. After picking 
out your sleeping place, dump your equipment on 
it; this establishes your claim. Then go to the 
Quartermaster stores and beg, steal, or buy an 
empty ammunition tin or wooden box. You do 
not want your rations to become covered with dust 
or to be chewed up by your ever-present neighbors, 
the rats, so use the aforesaid tin or box in this 
manner: Nail it above your head, about two feet 
from the ground. If you do this, you can place 
your candle on your ration box when lying down 
and so can read or write letters by the light. 



From my Trench Note Book 195 

Another reason is that your rations are within 
reach; if you happen to get hungry in the night, 
you will not disturb the other fellow who is asleep. 

Across the open end of your ration box hang 
your towel, thus keeping out the dust and dirt, 
also keeping your towel dry for the morning. An 
empty sand bag can be used instead. Keep your 
mess outfit in this box and it will not be lost in the 
straw or appropriated by someone who needs a 
knife, fork, spoon, or mess tin. Your rations are 
safe from the rat burglars and your comer is 
always neat. Be sure and do this ; it will help you. 

Remember, especially in the winter time, that 
if you want to sleep warm you must not pile 
everything on top of yourself, if you do you will 
be cold. The following morning, if you ask the 
fellow next you how he slept during the night, 
you may be surprised to hear him say, — "Fine, 
tip top, warm as a bug in a rug.*' Immediately 
you class him as an A No. i liar, for you know that 
he had only one overcoat and one blanket over 
him, while you were cold and had your overcoat, 
two blankets, poncho, and blouse over you. But 
he was telling the truth. He put the remainder 
of his covers under him. So be sure and fix the 
bed beneath. 



19^ 




First 


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stun:. 


wi'.ir. 


> . u most sleq> on 


ihe bard groii 


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:.: >: 


:--/.v is; available: 


Lie down cm 








here yoa 


intend to lest 


A. 






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mess knife or 








- ; ■.; ;.;.:;> ^n 


thegroondwh 








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buttocks ar 






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when you get sick 
: rations a very 
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:- "-: this 



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IS me 



From my Trench Note Book 197 

cheese, bacon grease, and bread crurnbs. Fry this 
in your mess tin over a candle until it begins to 
stew and eat it quickly, for as soon as the odor 
pervades the billet or dugout a crowd will gather 
round, asking for a handout. It is good stuff. 
Remember that the best way to 

Grease 

keep your bayonet, knife, fork, and 
spoon shining is to run them in and out of the 
grotmd several times. But carefully wipe them 
with a dry cloth afterwards. 

Remember if your mess outfit is dirty and 
greasy that cold water will not clean it. Take 
earth and grass and scour the utensils — then wipe 
them with a clean rag. This will save lots of time 
and is a very efi&cient method for removing grease. 

A good way to keep papers, tobacco, 
matches, or handkerchief dry in rainy ^ ^^ 
weather while in the fire trench is to 
sew a little pocket on the inside of your steel 
helmet large enough to carry these articles. 

To dry wet shoes, heat small pebbles and place 

them in the shoes. Be careful not to have, the 

pebbles hot enough to scorch or crack the leather. 

After filling in latrines, garbage holes, _, ^ , 

^ ' & o 'Old Latrine 

etc., do not fail to erect a sign stating, 

"Do not dig here — Old Latrine." The regiment 



198 First Call 

which relieves you is entitled to this courtesy. If 
no sign has been left to warn them, they are quite 
liable to dig at this spot with most unpleasant 
results. 

Enemy shells which do not explode 

after dropping in your lines (commonly 
called "duds") should not be left lying around, as 
they are dangerous. They should be buried 
about six feet deep, and a sign erected over the 
spot reading, ** Danger — Live Shells buried here, 
6 feet down." This is important; it may be the 
means of saving lives. Hundreds of men have 
been killed digging trenches on the Western Front, 
by their picks or shovels striking buried live shells 
or bombs. 

Remember that in the trenches, 
5^ "** ' outgoing troops have the right-of-way 

over incoming troops. The troops re- 
lieved are tired and worn out and their nerves 
are on edge from their tour in the fire trench. 
They are apt to be grouchy and unreasonable. 
Overlook this; be patient and cheerful with them 
and help them if possible. They will love you for 
it, and when their grouch has evaporated, behind 
the lines they will spread the news that your 
regiment is a "fine bunch." Later on this will 



From my Trench Note Book 199 

help you in many ways, especially when you are 
detailed on a working party with some other 
regiment. If your regiment has a bad name, 
look out for a nasty detail, especially if the non- 
com, in charge hails from a different outfit. 
The hours before sunrise and the 

one just before sunset are the two Sunrise and 

Siinset 
danger periods when the trenches are 

likely to be attacked. Keep constantly on 

the alert during these two periods, — it will pay 

you to do so. These times are selected by the 

enemy, because they can charge across No Man's 

Land with greater safety as it is then too dark 

to properly aim rifles and machine guns. 

You can take more liberties in the 

Miscellaneous 
front-line trench than in the support or 

reserve trenches, because the enemy assum^es that 

the front Hne is occupied, but if he sees or hears 

undue activity in the other lines, shelling will 

immediately result. 

Whenever the enemy establishes a smoke barrage 
in front of your lines, keep a careful watch for 
poison gas, because, under cover of the smoke, he 
is Hable to send over clouds of gas, which greatly 
resemble the former. 

At night while in the fire trench (if orders have 



tiss izis(5' "^ "^ m Oomwft ^radaais I^iiK^ 

iq^^tet. Tins ill <9aNicrlxi<C9Difi^€iMjn(]fiMr<ib^^ 
S it ^w^ i^ClMBfiML ift «bfe d^5>tiM it 

suit <W lOi^ VMSKS^ QctfllHI ^sIkkS '190M1 o^ 



TeiT csRibl tx> iDflAft sue iteft t^ 

dttdMit vnv^s. ^Monr womi ^A »A be 

o 9oe nJMit iocs imft yuHiL llienQJnl; oont^ 

idle ^m^a^ psrtT i^esoBRS ils inods; ^he 
itmilLbe^iidML 
,^ ^ _ TVt BdHi^ Amy li&s ii TK«y 



Tlds is of omM «Dd is ^ettorifcied 
ctf ^le lifle; in it ^bere is a j g i ww 

<;€ irae ifits. Tlie sbWer in n 
ttttuk i«Klies llie fSMn^ iHEibed mir&. — & ccx^le 
<tf stmds Imt Iks imy« fie MEmedlialxfy pHao gs 

90 idkstA, tlie ^cii^ Ste 



Frfifn my Trcrtr^Yi Note: P*fj<jk 2Gt 

in • /). H^ 

After .'^ - ^'' -.'= in a ^^^^ 

55, r?f?^ and 

, and it. rr/r>- 

you ^.ro .;;; . • . ^ \-"rr. . ' . ■ - 

man:> lyin^^ .;. ..... 

always '-. 

r^>:/'v ^r ;;-:"• hen turning Off -..--•-;: 

around a comer \ /oaet will p : . tj ^ : 

thus warning t? : r approadi 

The best na^y./.v. . >. - '^ ^^- -"' ; 

"cleaning out" a ho^*:'!f; ^: 

Grasp the small ^: '- : ., .> i.^ 
the left har. : - - : 3. ^ \\\\\-, ^ 

balance. Nov/ carry- the rifle agair "giit 

shoulder, the right arm nearly straight ar.-.: pcmting 
downward- Right '— -"' '"/:'' -^ ;'' -' -- -''■'-,, 
This will bring the ' 
The position is similar to the old "carry arms." 



202 First Call 

The bayonet now points upward, but from this 

position you can instantly come to that of the 

guard. In this position it is easy to look around 

a sharp corner without being betrayed by your 

rifle or bayonet. 

Before going over in an attack, 
Sandbags 

strap two or three empty sandbags 

on yoiur equipment. Later on these may prove 
invaluable. If you get into a hot comer where 
you are exposed to rifle or machine-gun fire, it is 
an easy matter to fill these sandbags with earth, 
thus making a cover which will prove very effec- 
tive against bullets. 

If in a captured trench, they wiH come in very 
handy, for with them you can build up the parados 
or strengthen the entrance to a dugout. 

Sandbags also make excellent covers for the 
feet while sleeping. Just put your feet in a couple 
of sandbags and you will be surprised to leam Low 
warm they keep. And, spread over straw, sand- 
bags make very comfortable beds. 

In taking over a part of the line, 

Elephant when you are in reserve, you will 
Dugouts -^ •' 

probably be assigned to large elephant 

dugouts — that is, if your part of the line has been 

occupied any length of time. Naturally you wish 



From my Trench Note Book 



20; 



to be as comfortable as possible. A good tip will 
not be amiss — get four or five of your bunkies 
together, and make a tier of wire cots. This can 
be easily done by getting two stout pieces of two 
by four. There ought to be lots of material in 
the ruined village. If there isn't, go out scouting, 
make friends with an engineer, and while you are 
engaging him in conversation, have a couple of 
your bunkies sneak the desired material from the 
engineer's dump or stores — but do7iH get caught. 
If you cannot get wire, go over to any picket line; 
they will be glad to give you some wire from bales 
of straw or hay. After getting your material, 
make the framework of a cot, using the two-by- 
fours for uprights. Then with yotu* bale wire 
weave a spring. Get some sandbags; fill them 
with straw, hay, or grass; place them over this 
spring; another layer of empty sandbags, and 
you will have a bed fit for a king. 

When pitching a tent, if possible 

Tents 
have the door of the tent face south; 

this will keep you warmer, for if a north wind rises 

it will then hit the rear of the tent. 

Mud is a great protection from shells. While 

crossing a muddy field or open space, if you hear a 

shell which is going to burst in your vicinity, drop 



204 First Call 

down flat in the mud, — the chances are a hundred 
to one that you will not be hit. The shell buries 
itself very deeply in the mud and explodes, the 
mud preventing the fragments from scattering to 
any great extent. 

If you are not a machine gunner and are not 
detailed to help in the operation of a machine gun 
— that is, carrying ammunition, digging emplace- 
ments, etc., — it is wise to avoid loitering in the near 
vicinity of the gun, because you are liable to be 
hit by enemy fire. One of the pet pastimes of 
German artillery is "searching out" machine-gun 
emplacements with shells. 

Machine guns seldom use frontal fire; they just 
enfilade, owing to rapidity and narrow cone of fire. 
Guns on right and left protect its front. Only 
use battle emplacements during actual attack or 
else the artillery will tape you. 



CHAPTER XXIV 



PERISCOPES AND " SENTRY GO" 



1 X 7HEN the American soldier enters a trench 
^ ' for the first time, he feels lonely and lost. 
He can see only walls of earth with a strip of sky 
for roof. But this loneliness soon passes away and 
is replaced by a feeling of security. He immedi- 
ately becomes convinced that he is safe because 
he cannot be seen by the enemy. This, to a certain 
extent, is true, but if the enemy cannot see you, 
the fact remains that you cannot see the enemy. 
Soon the soldier's sense of security melts away and 
is replaced by a nervous wonder. What are the 
enemy doing? Are they crawling up on his 
trench? He has an irresistible desire to get up on 
the fire step and look over the top in the direction 
of the enemy lines. 

At night this curiosity may be ^ . 

^ J ./ Penscopes 

satisfied with little danger to the 

person exposing himself, but in the daytime it is 

205 



2o6 First Call 

suicide to look over the top of the trench, because 
enemy snipers are waiting for just such an oppor- 
tunity to send you to Blighty. Early in the war 
there were devised means by which a soldier 
could see what was going on in No Man's Land 
during the day without exposing himself to fire. 
The periscope was used. Now there are many 
types of periscopes. The old box periscope, at 
the best a clumsy affair, was first tried. This pre- 
sented an admirable target for enemy snipers and 
they were not slow in shattering them with bullets. 
The ordinary life of such a periscope was about 
twenty to thirty minutes, so the soldiers got busy 
and made their own. 

This was a very easy matter, because a periscope 
consists simply of two mirrors placed at certain 
angles, one of them sticking over the top while 
the other is below in the trench. The arrange- 
ment of these mirrors enables the gazer to look 
into the lower mirror and see there the reflection 
of the upper mirror which reveals the ground in 
front of the trench. 

To make one of these periscopes, take an ordi- 
nary stake or stick (as per illustration), cut two slots 
in same and insert the mirrors. Before exposing 
the upper mirror above the trench, see that it is 



Periscopes and ** Sentry Go** 207 




208 First Call 

screened, so that the sun rays will not reflect on it 
and thus betray its position to the enemy. If the 
enemy spot a periscope they will not only turn 
rifle fire on it, but will open up with their trench 
mortars and make it very uncomfortable for the 
men stationed near. One disadvantage in the 
use of the periscope is that it makes distance seem 
greater than it really is. To make the image in 
the periscope clearer, attach binoculars to the 
lower mirror, at the proper angle. Tliis will help 
greatly. No doubt the American soldier's natural 
ingenuity and inventiveness will in time discover 
methods far superior to the above. 

After entering the fire trench keep 

" Sentry Go " ^ ^ 

your wits about you. If you are 

placed on guard be sure that the sentry whom 

you relieve turns over all orders, warnings, 

instructions, etc., to you. Do not be afraid to 

ask questions. Do not take your post until 

you are perfectly familiar with it, the terrain in 

front, and modes and lanes of communication 

to your officer or non-commissioned officer. See 

that your footing is secure when standing on the 

fire step, that your head is sufficiently "over the 

top " to allow an unobstructed view of No Man's 

Land and that your rifle rests on the parapet. 



Periscopes and •'Sentry Go** 209 

Be sure that you are able to cover with a quick 
aim every object seen in the section you guard. 
See that the rifle is working perfectly, that the 
magazine is loaded, the ammunition clean, and 
that you have sufficient ammunition within easy 
reach. Make certain that your front and rear 
sights are free from mud and that the bore of 
your rifle has not become clogged with mud from 
the walls of the trench. 

Orders are passed from firebay to firebay by 
word of mouth. Make a sentry passing an order 
down the line repeat it, and then repeat it yourself 
to the sentry on your left, making him in turn 
repeat it to you. 

See that the gas gong is in working order. 

Be familiar with the location of all dugouts, 
bomb stores, etc., so that in case of a gas alarm 
or infantry attack you will be able to warn your 
section of the trench quickly and thus give the 
men sufficient time to prepare for such an attack. 

If the order, "No firing or challenging, — party 

out in front, " has not been passed down the line, 

sharply challenge every moving or suspected 

object in No Man's Land. If the challenge is not 

immediately answered, do not be afraid to fire. 

Keep your nerve while on guard; if you allow 
14 



210 



First Call 



yourself to become shaky and nervous, you are 
liable to discharge your rifle at some imaginary 
object and thus unnecessarily alarm the men in 
the trench. 

Of course, the above instructions cover night 
guard duty only. While your head is "over the 
top" you must never, for any reason, relax your 
vigilance, even though a stray bullet kicks up the 
dirt near you. Do not duck, because there is 
only one chance in ten thousand of your being 
hit. If an officer, non-commissioned officer, or 
soldier addresses you from the rear, do not turn 
around to answer, even if it is in the line of 
duty. (If it is not in the line of duty, pay no 
tention at all to him.) If you turn, you divert your 
attention from the ground in front, and perhaps 
in this very second an enemy patrol or raiding 
party will cross your sector unobserved by you. 

Before mounting the fire step see that a flare 
pistol is handy, with a sufficient supply of star 
shells. I used to place these on the top of the 
parapet, a little to my left. If you are uncertain 
about some object in No Man's Land which 
appears suspicious, send up a star shell aiming 
yoiir pistol so that the star shell will pass over the 
object and fall behind it, thus silhouetting the 



Periscopes and ••Sentry Go" 211 

object against the bright light made by the burn- 
ing shell. In the daytime, if you are stationed at 
a periscope and you know that you wlQ mount 
guard at night on the same fire step, photograph 
on your mind a picture of the ground in front of 
you. Note all objects, depressions in the groimd, 
shell holes, high grass, sttimps of trees, or any 
other objects which would at night screen an 
enemy crawling toward yoiu* trench. This will 
help you wonderfully and will quiet your nerves, 
for a new sentry on guard at night, with his head 
sticking "over the top," generally imagines that 
every dark object in front of him is a battalion of 
Germans solely bent on the purpose of exter- 
minating him, and he is constantly wondering 
what they will do with his body. 

A sentry on guard in the winter time must be 
very careful of his feet, — they are liable to freeze, 
or contract the disease known as "trench feet.'* 
A sentry should not stamp his feet while on guard, 
because this necessarily distracts his attention 
from the sector in front. It is therefore up to him, 
hours before mounting guard, to see that his feet 
are properly cared for. Two pairs of dry clean 
socks will be sufficient to keep the feet warm and 
dry, especially if they are rubbed with soap or whale 



212 First Call 

oil. Before mounting the fire step, particiilarly in 
rainy weather, be sure that you fix a dry place 
on which to stand. I used to take five or six sand- 
bags; doubling them I would place them on the fire 
step, thus gaining a firm hold, at the same time 
keeping my feet dry and warm. 

Before mounting the fire step see that your 
puttees or leggings are not laced too tightly. 
Tight lacing stops the circulation and ma^^ result 
in frozen feet in very cold weather. In the 
English Army a case of frost bitten feet is liable 
to be punished by court-martial, for the reason 
that except in very rare cases, the trouble results 
from the soldier's negligence. 

If you carry a piece of cheese and biscuit in 
your pocket and occasionally munch same, the 
time will pass much more quickly. Remember 
that you are not an ornament for the trench. You 
are there to exercise the strictest of vigilance, and 
to guard your mates and yourself. Do your duty 
and do it well. 

If you are detailed as a runner to a 

^J'tii^S^tay sentry, your duty is to sit on the fire 

step at his feet, and carry messages 

to the officer or "non-com" in charge, or to 

pass orders from firebay to firebay. While 



Periscopes and "Sentry Go'* 213 

thus engaged (especially at night) be careM to 
challenge every person who enters your firebay. 
If the person challenged cannot answer every 
question or challenge in a satisfactory manner, 
arrest him and call for the officer or ** non-com. " 
Do not, upon your own responsibility, let any 
one, be he officer or enlisted man, pass through, 
unless you are personally satisfied that he is above 
suspicion. 



CHAPTER XXV 

MACHINE GUNS AND SNIPERS 

JPVERY soldier in the army should know how 
to operate a machine gun in case of emer- 
gency. You can never tell when it will be needed. 
If this need arises, and there is a gun on the spot, 
it is up to you to know how to operate it, for you 
may save many lives, including your own. 

I am not going into a long treatise on machine 
gunnery, because the soldier who wants to become 
an efficient machine gunner must take the course 
prescribed in the army, but if followed, the follow- 
ing hints will serve in a pinch. Most soldiers 
in the American Army have seen the Lewis gun, 
therefore I will describe it first. 

. . _ This weapon was invented by an 

Lewis Gun ^ "^ 

American officer, Colonel I. N. Lewis 

of the Coast Artillery Corps, now on the retired 

list. It can hardly be classed as a machine 

gun. It is rather an automatic rifle. This gun 

214 



Machine Guns and Snipers 215 

only weighs twenty-six pounds, is air cooled, gas 
operated, and fed from a circular or "pie plate" 
magazine, holding forty-seven rounds. The air- 
cooling system is an important feature because it 
cools the gun almost as effectively as a water 
jacket, thus doing away with the disadvantage of 
extra weight, difficulty of water supply and 
freezing, and it does not produce the tell-tale 
steam which rises from a water-cooled machine 
gun. It is very simple in its mechanism and is 
easy to assemble and disassemble. It can be 
handled and transported by one man in case of 
necessity. 

To load the gun, grasp the magazine with 
both hands, the arrow pointing to the front, and 
carefully place it on the magazine post with the 
cocking handle forward, moving it slightly to the 
right or left to be sure that it is properly seated. 
If it is dark and the arrow is invisible, the right 
thumb may be placed lightly on the magazine 
latch, thus insuring the proper position. In 
placing the magazine be sure that the magazine 
latch is not pressed in, as this will release the 
magazine center and may cause a stoppage. 

After the magazine is properly adjusted, pull 
back the cocking handle to its fullest extent. To 



2i6 First Call 

fire, press the trigger. With a constant pressure 

on the trigger the. gun will continue firing until 

the magazine is empty. To cease firing, release 

pressure on trigger. 

Usually a stoppage in the Lewis 
Stoppages . . u ^x. ' f 4-u 

gun IS caused by the nm of the maga- 
zine becoming worn or mutilated. The magazine 
then refuses to feed. Therefore it is necessary 
to be very careful in adjusting and caring for 
these magazines. 

To determine the cause oj stoppage, it must be 
remembered that the cocking handle stops in 
three positions. 

If the gun stops in the first position, try to 

rotate the magazine to the left. If you cannot do 

this it is empty. The remedy then is to change 

the empty magazine for a loaded one. If it will 

not rotate to the left, pull back handle and 

continue firing. If the gun still refuses to fire 

and you are not a machine gunner, stop. It is 

useless to waste further time with it. If you are 

a machine gunner you will know the technical 

details of remedying stoppages. 

The Vickers Light Water Cooled 
Vickers Gun 

.303 Machine Gun has proven to be 

the best machine gun so far used in this war. 




The Lewis Gun — in action. 




Lewis Gun. 



Machine Guns and Snipers 217 

It is the standard of the British Army. The 
gun itself weighs about 28}^ lbs. without the water 
in the barrel casing; with the water, it weighs 383^ 
lbs. It is fired from an adjustable tripod weighing 
48 lbs. It is fed by a metal or canvas belt con- 
taining 250 rounds of .303 caliber cartridges. 

To load the guriy pass the tag end of the belt 
through the feed block from right to left. Grasp 
the crank handle with right hand, and pull back as 
far as it will go. Holding the crank handle in this 
position, grasp the tag end of the belt with the 
left hand and pull it as far as possible to the left, 
with a sharp tug forward. Let go of the crank 
handle. Again pull back the crank handle, still 
pulling the belt to the left and forward; release 
crank handle. The gun is now loaded. 

To fire gun: grasp the traversing handles with 
both hands; with the two index fingers raise 
the safety latch and evenly press the thumb 
piece with both thumbs. The gun is now firing 
and will continue to do so as long as pressure is 
maintained on the thumb piece, or until the belt 
runs out. 

To cease firing, release the pressure on thumb 
piece. If a stoppage occurs, that is, if the gun 
refuses to fire, the cause is indicated by the posi- 



2i8 First Call 

tion of the crank handle. It may stop in four 

positions. 

I will give only the causes of the 
Stoppages 

stoppages which may be^easily re- 
medied by the layman. If the crank handle is 
well back in a vertical position, it is due to lack 
of oil in gun, improperly filled belt or improper 
loading. 

Immediate action. — Complete the motion of 
roller by pulling crank handle back with the hand. 
If the stoppage recurs loosen the fusee spring on 
the left of the gun by a few ttims of the spring 
adjuster, turning it outward; then oil the recoiling 
parts. 

If the crank handle is in the second position, — 
a little forward from that of the first, the probable 
cause of stoppage is a damaged cartridge or 
separated cartridge case. 

Immediate action. — Lift rear cover, withdraw 
lock, and carefully examine cartridge. If it is 
damaged, remove it, reload as previously shown, 
lift safety latch, press thumb piece, and continue 
firing. If cartridge is perfect, you will know that 
there is a separated case in the chamber of the 
gun. Remove this with cartridge extractor, re- 
place lock, reload as before, and continue firing. 



Machine Guns and Snipers 219 

In the third position the crank handle is al- 
most home but not quite. The probable cause 
is that your ammunition box is out of position, 
thus putting the belt out of the line of feed and 
causing an excessive pull. If so, adjust ammuni- 
tion box and belt; if this does not remedy the 
stoppage the belt is probably improperly filled, the 
cartridges not being pushed home. To remedy 
this, examine belt and properly adjust any mis- 
placed cartridge. Perhaps the brass tags on the 
cartridge belt are bent, the belt may be tight or 
wet, thus preventing the cartridges from being 
easil}^ extracted. 

Immediate action. — With right hand, strike 
crank handle down with glancing blow, using the 
palm of the hand. If this fails, lift up the handle 
slightly, pull belt to the left front, let go of handle, 
and continue firing. If i. the handle cannot be 
lifted raise the rear cover with the left hand, and 
work handle back and forth while the horns of the 
carrier are being forced downward with a screw- 
driver, wrench, or other instrument. If this fails 
lift cover, change lock, and carry on with firing. 

In the fourth position the crank handle is well 
home. The stoppage is probably caused through 
a misfire, broken firing pin, or lack of cartridges 



220 First Call 

in chamber, due to improper loading of belt 
leaving an empty space. 

Immediate action. — Half load and continue firing. 
If the gun still refuses to fire, unload, change lock, 
load, and commence firing. If there is no car- 
tridge in chamber, half load and carry on. 

This type of gun is also air cooled 
Automatic ^^^ ^^^ Operated. It is miounted on a 
tripod and fed from a belt. It will 
fire at the rate of 400 or more shots per minute. 
The gun itself weighs about 35 pounds, the tripod 
and mount about 56 pounds. The cartridge belt 
holds 250 rounds. A great advantage of the 
Colt gun is that there are no adjustments to be 
made by a soldier, and if a gun is in proper condi- 
tion it can be operated very easily, as it is only 
necessary for the operator to know how to load it. 

To load, insert the brass tip of belt through 
opening above the box and pull it out on the 
opposite side of the gun as far as it will go; then 
let go of belt, pull the gas lever downward to the 
rear until it strikes the bottom plate (do not pull 
the belt while gas lever is in operation); release 
gas lever which will then resume its normal posi- 
tion. The gun is now loaded and ready to be 
fired. 



Machine Guns and Snipers 221 

To fire, press the trigger. 

To cease firing, release trigger. 

After having been "up the line'* 
for a tour in the trenches, it is easy to Distinguish- 
distinguish the German machine gun "^^ ^^ , ® 
from the English Vickers by the sound Sound 

made in firing. The German gim 
fires much slower, making a slow ' ' pup-pup-pup- 
pup" report, while the English fires very rapidly, 
the sound being similar to that of a pnetimatic 
riveter. 

The Germans, no doubt, being over fed on 
efiiciency, have figured that three machine-gun 
bullets through a man will stop him just as quickly 
as seven or eight, with a resultant saving of 
ammunition. 

The German gun is of a heavier type than the 
Vickers, very much resembling the old Maxim 
which is now obsolete in the British Army. 

Fritz also has a steel bullet-proof shield on his 
gun, which makes the gun very cumbersome and 
heavy, although it protects the gunner. 

The Tommy (no doubt Sammy will probably 
follow his example) prefers to run the risk of 
being hit while in action to the hard work of 
lugging around a gun equipped with a heavy steel 



222 First Call 

shield. Perhaps it is laziness on Tommy's part, 
or perhaps he has more sand than Fritz possesses. 
The latter supposition is correct, I am sure. 

The American soldier being the crack shot of 
the world, which fact has been proved in many 
international matches, will after a while rank as 
first in the art of sniping. Sniping, as used to- 
day on the Western Front, takes us back hundreds 
of years to the methods of the American Indian. 
Sniping is simply the art of scouting — that is of 
seeing the enemy without being seen, and picking 
off any who expose themselves. Being a fair 
shot, I put in about six weeks at this work while 
in the trenches but could not stand the strain. 
To me it appeared quite all right to "get" a man 
in the heat of battle, but to lie hours and days at a 
time, waiting for an enemy to expose himself, — 
then to plug him, appeared to me a little under- 
handed. After seeing two men in the enemy 
lines drop before my rifle, I felt sick in the stomach 
and requested to be relieved from the detail. My 
nerve had gone, and as a nervous sniper is prac- 
tically useless to the army, my request was readily 
granted. Still if the enemy is active in sniping, 
we have no other alternative than to be twice as 
active. 



Machine Guns and Snipers 223 

Snipers are divided into squads, generally 

in charge of an officer or non-commis- 

Sniping 

sioned officer. These squads number 
from four to six men. Each has successfully passed 
a three weeks* course in sniping behind the lines. 
This course is very thorough, the men being 
trained in methods of disguising themselves, range 
finding, pot shooting, and scouting. 

The snipers equipment usually consists of a 
telescopic rifle, a powerful set of field glasses, 
and a range finder. When practicable he is 
also given a maxim silencer to be used on the 
rifle. 

Snipers very seldom take station in the front- 
line trench, as the ground behind the lines offers 
better observation and concealment. Snipers will 
observe the enemy lines for days at a time without 
firing a shot, drawing maps and noting low and 
exposed portions. They have a clever system of 
setting their rifles, after getting the exact range 
of the spot where the enemy has been exposing 
himself. They fix their rifles in such a manner 
that no sighting is necessary, — a hit will be 
registered by simply pulling the trigger. Some- 
times as many as six rifles are securely fastened 
to a board or log ; the triggers are connected so that 



224 First Call 

the pulling of a string discharges the six rifles 
simultaneously. 

I have seen a British sniper, after securing the 
range of an exposed spot, crawl out, under cover 
of darkness, upon a pile of banked-up earth or mud, 
and plaster himself all over with wet mud so that 
at a distance of a few yards it was impossible to 
distinguish him, when lying still, from the sur- 
rounding soil. This man would lie motionless 
for hours until he "got" his victim. Then he 
would either wait for darkness or make a quick 
dash into his own trench. Other snipers take 
positions in trees, tieing branches about their 
bodies. Others, by covering themselves with 
grass and lying in the fields, have secured good 
results, generally returning with two or three nicks 
added to the stocks of their rifles (each nick for a 
German who has fallen under their fire). 

One rainy day while acting as runner or orderly 
for my machine-gun oflicer, instead of following 
the communication trench I decided to chance it 
by going ''over the top, " as the trench was almost 
knee deep with sticky, gluey mud. Dawn was 
just breaking and although I took the risk of 
being potted, still I preferred that to plowing 
through the communication trench. Running 



Machine Guns and Snipers 225 

along I stepped on what appeared to be a muddy 

rise in the ground. I nearly dropped dead with 

fright when this mound of earth ejaculated, 

*'Why in 'ell don't you get a periscope if you 

cawnt see where you're bloody well going." It 

was a sniper lying in the wet mud. Right now I 

bet he is in a hospital in Blighty cursing old man 

Rheumatism. 

Snipers sometimes work from behind cleverly 

concealed loopholes in the front-line trench, but 

these sooner or later will be sniped by the enemy 

and the sniper becomes a casualty. Snipers' days 

are generally numbered. 

A good ruse for locating a trouble- 

A R.USC 

some enemy sniper is to place a dummy 
head so that it is exposed to view over the top 
of the trench. Go into the next firebay, having 
previously prepared a loophole through which you 
can easily observe the enemy lines. The sniper 
will fire at the head. Listen for the report of his 
rifle and carefully watch for the tell-tale dust 
where he fires from the opposite trench. If after 
firing several shots you cannot locate him in this 
manner, warily examine the dummy. It will be 
an easy matter to ascertain, by the angles of 
the bullet holes which have passed through the 

IS 



226 First Call 

head, the direction from which the shots were 
fired. 

After you have located him communicate this 
information to your officer. He will get busy and 
notify the artillery observation officer and it will 
not be long before a couple of shells drop on or so 
close to Fritz that he will pack up and gallop for 
Berlin, the City of Kultur. 



CHAPTER XXVI 



IN NO MAN S LAND 



/^NE of the most nerve-racking details in 

^-^ trench warfare is that of Listen- 
Listening 
ing Post. These posts are usually saps post 

running from the fire trench, under- 
neath the barbed wire, and well out into No Man*s 
Land. At night two or three men are detailed 
to go out to the end of this sap, and listen, two 
hours at a stretch, for enemy working parties and 
patrols, for bombing raids, and mining. Listening 
for sapping and mining is a tough job. The 
soldier lies with his ear to the ground, every sense 
alert for the "tap-tap" of digging beneath him. 
If he hears this sound he immediately com- 
municates with the fire trench, and an officer of 
the engineers comes out to the spot where the 
noise was heard, and also listens and takes bear- 
ings. If he is satisfied that the Germans are 

digging under No Man's Land, the engineers 

227 



228 First Call 

immediately get busy and run a countershaft 
tiy^g to go deeper than the enemy tunnel. At 
the head of this shaft the}^ store high explosives, 
and later, — perhaps after days or weeks, — when 
it is ascertained that the enem}' is above them, 
the explosives are set off and "up in the air with 
the best of luck" go the enem}' sappers. 

Sometimes, men detailed for listening post 
have no saps and are forced to crawl through a 
lane cut in their own barbed wire. Reaching a 
point about midway between the lines, one man 
lies down with his ear to the ground, while the 
other one kneels, keeping constantly on the alert 
for reconnoitering patrols and enemy working 
parties. If the night is cold, wet, and stormy this 
is a ver\- unpleasant task, because one never 
knows when a strong German patrol will run into 
them. Many clever de\ices are used in the sap 
listening post for communication with sentries or 
men in the fire trench. A stout cord is tied to the 
hand of one of the men out in front, while the 
other end is attached to a bell or signal in the fire 
trench. By a code of jerks or tugs, signals are 
communicated. Men on listening post are gen- 
erally armed with rifles, bayonets, and bombs. 

Sometimes where the squad consists of five or 



In No Man's Land 229 

six men, a Lewis or Vickers machine gun. is used. 

Many a German working party can testify to the 

efficiency of these weapons from their ''point of 

vantage." A listening post is not supposed to 

offer fight to an enemy patrol, — its main purpose 

is to see without being seen, and to transmit the 

information thus secured to the defenders of 

the front line. It is only when the men on 

the listening post are liable to be annihilated or 

captured that resistance is shown. 

A man to be selected for patrolling 

and reconnoitering must have keen Reconnoiter- 

° ^ rng and 

eyesight, perfect hearing, quick judg- Patrolling 

ment, and iron nerve. Although it is 
hazardous work, still after going out in front two 
or three times the work possesses a fascination 
which cannot be resisted. 

There are many elements of danger to be 
considered while on one of these expeditions. 
You must be wary of German star shells, and 
know how to instantly take cover to avoid being 
seen. You must also be wary of objects on the 
ground, such as old logs, roots, hillocks, or any- 
thing that will make you trip and fall. Shell 
holes must be avoided if they are filled with water, 
because the telltale splash made by stumbling 



230 



First Call 



into them will draw enemy fire. Trap wires 
(which are described in the chapter on Trench 
Raids, Chapter XXX) are a source of constant 
danger. 

A sharp lookout must be kept for enemy patrols 
and listening posts. Sometimes it is necessary 
for patrols to crawl up to the enemy barbed wire 
and scout along the front. This is very un- 
pleasant work, especiall}^ when you can hear 
the enemy talking in their trenches a few yards 
in front of you. A reconnoitering patrol very 
seldom offers combat — in fact at times German 
and English patrols have come within a few feet 
of each other and have passed the time of day 
without firing a shot. Personally I would not 
advise any social intercourse whatever if you run 
into a German patrol when engaged in this work. 

A patrol must thoroughly know every detail of 
the ground in No Man's Land, and must be 
familiar with the location of places of cover, to 
which, if discovered, they can repair at a moment's 
notice, screening themselves from enemy fire. 
A good stunt to use when patrolling in a strange 
sector for the first time, is to tie a piece of white 
tape to a stake at the end of the lane in your 
barbed wire and run this tape out with you as you 



In No Man's Land 231 

proceed into No Man's Land. Carry a few small 
sharpened wooden stakes and when you get to 
the distance desired from the enemy's lines drive 
a stake into the ground, being careful not to make 
any noise. Fasten the tape to it, fixing in your 
mind the location of the stake. Now, if you 
happen to get lost in the darkness, and perhaps 
make two or three turns (this often happens), do 
not lose your head but crawl around until you 
run across the tape. By following it you can 
easily reach the point from which you left your 
trench. 

Before starting on a patrolling expedition it is 
very important to locate some distinctive object 
above the sky line in your own lines, so that if 
you get lost in No Man's Land this object can be 
plainly seen and you will know the direction and 
avoid crawling toward the German trenches. 
PatrolHng parties generally carry Mills bombs, and 
are armed with rifles and bayonets. 

(It will be beneficial to the draft man, while in 
training camps in the United States, to practice 
reconnoitering and scouting at night. When you 
are returning to your camp do not always take 
the well-beaten road and path, but try cutting 
across a field or some other unfamiliar route. 



232 First Call 

This practice will help to make you proficient in 
finding your way in the darkness. But to display 
your great skill as a scout do not try to crawl up on 
some sentry without being seen. In his momen- 
tary fright and excitement he is liable to pump 
a bullet into you or perhaps jab you with his 
bayonet. Remember apologies will never heal a 
wound.) 

After being in a fire trench for 
Mwi'sL^d ^"^^il^ i^ g^^^ monotonous and many 
tricks are used to get the enemy's 
goat, and at the same time amuse oneself. In 
the English Army many a bet that he would hang 
his cap or handkerchief on the German barbed 
wire has been made by some daring spirit. This 
has been done over and over again. One great 
stunt (but very dangerous) affords a lot of amuse- 
ment for the front line soldier. This consists in 
taking a large ball of stout cord, tying one end 
to a stake in the trench, crawling out into No 
Man's Land under cover of darkness, and attach- 
ing a bell to the German barbed wire. The other 
end of the cord is fastened to this bell, the joker 
crawls back into the English trenches, and the 
fun starts. The Tommies give the cord a tug, 
the bell rings in the German barbed wire, and 



In No Man's Land 



^33 



Pritz turns loose with bombs, machine gun, and 
rifle fire and Tommy Atkins lies in his trench 
splitting with laughter. 

At one part of the line we were 
stationed next to the Royal Irish ^ 

Rifles. One member of this regiment 
heard of the bell trick and bet ten shillings that 
he would do it. A couple of the older men tried 
to tell him how it was done, but he would not lis- 
ten to their advice, — in fact, he took the advice as 
an insult. So getting his cord and an old cow bell 
he proceeded out into No Man*s Land, but neg- 
lected tying the cord to a stake in his own trench. 
He crawled to the German lines, attached the bell 
to the wire, tied the end of the cord to the bell, and 
then started back to his own trenches, unrolling 
the cord on his way. He had gotten about fifteen 
or twenty feet from the German lines when in 
some way the cord refused to unwind and a little 
jingle was heard immediately in his rear, followed 
by star shells, rifle and machine-gun fire. It took 
that Irishman about twenty-five minutes to reach 
the German barbed wire; it took him exactly three 
seconds to return to his trench. When we tried 
to explain to him the mistake he had made in not 
first attaching the cord to the stake in his own 



234 First Call 

trench, he still couldn't, or wotildn't, see what 
difference that made. Personally I don't believe 
that he ever again attempted to try the bell trick 
on Fritz. 

One night I was on guard in the front line trench 
and during my own tour saw and heard nothing. 
The next morning when dawn broke I could see, 
hanging on our wire about thirty feet in front of 
me, a German trench cap. The cold shivers ran 
through me, and my opinion of my ability as a 
sentry dropped to zero. I didn't mention the 
fact to my mates at the time of sighting the cap, 
but a little later the men at the periscope informed 
me that I was a ''bloody fine sentry" to let the 
Boches come over and sleep on my post. The 
next day I found out that it was an old trick 
worked on recruits; one of our own men, during 
reliefs, had hung this cap in my section of wire. 
Upon finding this out my opinion of myself again 
rose to normal. 



CHAPTER XXVII ^^ 

BOMBING 

nPHE soldier will surely want to know some- 
"■• thing about bombing and the civilian will 
perhaps be interested to read a little about this 
often mentioned feature of modern warfare. 

Bombs, or hand grenades, are divided into three 
classes, namely, — (i) percussion, (2) ignition, and 
(3) mechanical. Since the beginning of the war 
about thirty different types of bombs have been 
used but most of them are now obsolete. They 
were gradually improved from the time the old 
pioneer "jam tin" was first manufactured by the 
soldier, until the present Hand Grenade No. 5, 
known as the ''Mills Bomb," was introduced. 
This bomb is the standard of the British Army. 
It is quite safe for the thrower but very destruc- 
tive to the enemy. 

It is almost a certainty that Sammy, after 
reaching France, will use the Mills bombs; 

235 



236 First Call 

therefore it would be confusing to go into detailed 

description of other types. 

This bomb comes tmder the mechani- 

^^ , ^ cat class. It is made of cast iron, oval 
Dom.0 

shaped, four by two and three fifths 
inches, and weighs about twenty-four ounces. The 
cast iron casing is serrated so that when the ex- 
plosion occurs forty-eight little squares of iron 
will be scattered in a large circle, wounding or 
killing the soldier who may be hit by one or 
more of the flying fragments. The bottom of 
the bomb can be unscrewed so that the deto- 
nator with the percussion cap and fuse can be 
inserted. After the bomb is "detonated," the 
bottom is screwed on tightly, with the aid of a 
spanner. 

At the top of the bomb is the striker or firing 
pin. This fits into a small groove in the striker 
lever. The striker lever, which is nothing more 
or less than the trigger of the bomb, is on the out- 
side of the casing and is about three inches in 
length, curved to lie snugly against the side of the 
bomb. About one inch from the top of the striker 
lever is a small round hole, which admits the safety 
or fixing pin. On the end of this pin is a ring which 
is large enough to admit the finger, thus enabling 



Bombing 237 

the pin to be easily removed by the bomber before 
throwing. 

The striker is attached to a small, compact, but 
powerful spring, known as the striker spring. This 
drives the striker downward so that it comes in 
contact with and explodes the percussion cap. 

The detonator or firing charge of the bomb is 
composed of the percussion cap, attached to the 
end of the safety fuse, which is timed to explode 
the detonator in three and one quarter seconds. 
The detonator is charged with fulminate of mer- 
cury, a very high explosive. 

About one half inch from the top of the bomb, 
on the opposite side from the striker lever, is a 
small hole which allows the insertion of the burst- 
ing charge or main explosive, — ammonal. After 
the explosive is inserted, the entrance is closed by a 
steel screw. Ammonal is very destructive but is 
safe to handle, — in fact you can throw a Mills bomb 
against a stone wall without exploding it, if the 
striker lever is not released (still I would not advise 
your trying this because accidents will happen). 

In throwing the Mills bomb, grasp 

it in the right hand, with the striker Position ^n 
^ ' Throwing 

le\5pr under the fingers. Insert the 

forefinger of the left hand in the ring on 



238 First Call 

the safety pin and remove pin. Now the only 
thing that holds the striker lever in place is 
the right hand. Throw the bomb. As it leaves 
your hand the striker lever flies off and drops 
harmlessly to the ground. The striker is re- 
leased; the striker spring forces it against the 
percussion cap, which ignites the fuse which 
in turn bums down and explodes the charge of 
fulminate of mercury in the detonator. This 
explosion sets off the main charge of ammonal 
and the bomb bursts. If the fuse is timed 
correctly, the bomb will explode three and 
one quarter seconds after it leaves the hand. 
To be safe the bomber must throw the bomb 
thirty yards or more from him. Thirt}^ yards 
is ninety feet, the distance from home plate 
to first base. Sammy on account of playing 
baseball from childhood up, should easily take 
first rank among the Allied bombers. Every 
Sammy should thoroughly understand the con- 
struction, working, and throwing of the Mills 
bomb. 

The correct position of bombing, as taught me 
during a course at bombing school in^ France, is 
as follows (a few tips I learned from my own 
experience are interspersed) : 



Bombing 239 

Piill out the safety pin; face in the direction 

in which the bomb is to be thrown. 

Execute a right face. Advance the left ^^ Throw a 

^ Bomb from a 

foot twice its length in the original di- Trench 

rection, the toe pointing in the direction 
in which the bomb is to be thrown. Move the right 
toe about two inches to the left, — this will place 
the right foot at right angles to the left. Carry 
the right foot straight forward about two inches. 
Left knee must be stiff, right knee bent so that 
the body is inclining slightly backward. Point the 
left arm, elbow straight, at an angle of about forty- 
five degrees in the direction in which you wish to 
throw the bomb. The bomb is grasped in the 
right hand, right arm straight and hanging down- 
ward, which places hand in rear of right knee. 
Now, with an overhand motion, the same as if 
bowling a cricket ball, throw the bomb, arm stiff, 
in the direction in which the left hand is pointing, 
and if necessary bend the left knee in so doing. 
The position is like that in "putting the shot," 
except that the right arm hangs downward. 

Before throwing a bomb from a trench, ascer- 
tain, by going through the throwing motion, that 
you have sufficient room to prevent your right 
hand from coming in contact with the walls of 



:>40 First Call 

the trench. In throwing a live bomb (one which 
is loaded and detonated"), if the throwing hand 
strikes the parados or a traverse with sufficient 
force, the bomb is liable to be knocked out of the 
hand and fall in the trench.. The safety pin being 
previous!}' removed, an explosion results, with dire 
results to you and your comrades. If you should 
drop a bomb in the manner described, remember 
that it is through ^-our own carelessness and lack 
of caution, therefore it is up to 3'ou to act quickly 
and, if possible, remove the danger before your 
comrades are injured b}' the explosion which will 
result in three and one quarter seconds. 

Do not shout a loud warning and rush for the 
nearest exit from the firebay, because a wild 
scramble will result and the traverse will be choked 
with struggling men, fighting to escape. The bomb 
will explode and many casualties will result. Pick 
up the bomb and toss it well over the top of the 
trench, but while doing so give the warning to 
your mates so that they can hug the parapet 
and be safe from the explosion. If you do not 
lose your head and realize that three and a quarter 
seconds is ample time in which to throw four or 
five bombs over the top, this stunt will be easy. 
If there is no other way out of the difficult^-, give 



^/=>-" 




r. &- u 



A Gun Converted into a Grenade Thrower. 



242 First Call 

through, will not explode the ammonal charge. 
The percussion cap must be hit first and the 
chances are a million to one that that won't happen. 
In throwing a bomb out in front, or in the open, 
as soon as it leaves your hand, drop flat on the 
ground and you will be safe from any stray piece 
which may come in your direction, ^ 



CHAPTER XXVIII 

FIGHTING FIRE WITH FIRE 

n^HE Germans were the first to introduce the 
use of gas into modern warfare. They 
"sent it over" at Ypres in April, 191 5, with dis- 
astrous results. You must realize that when 
warring with nations who have cast honor and 
civilized methods into the discard, Devil's 

it is necessary for self-preservation to Inventions 
adopt some of their methods and give them a 
dose of their own medicine, — ^with this addition — 
make the medicine that you send over to them 
twice as nasty and more destructive than theirs. 
They will then soon ' ' pack up ' ' and cry quits. The 
German is a wonderful soldier while he is win- 
ning, but when losing he squeals like a pig. 

Although gas is very dangerous and destructive, 
still it is easily combated if the soldier does not 
lose his head and carefully follows the instructions 

and rules laid down for him. 

243 



244 First Call 

In attacking with 
two methods which can be used, 



In attacking with gas there are only 
Gas 



namely : 

1. Emanation. 

2. Shells and grenades (bombs). 

The first m_ethod to be successful, depends both 
on the elements and surprise. 

Gas, by this method, can only be sent over when 
the wind is blowing from the point of the attack 
toward the objective. A wind with a velocity of 
about five miles per hour is the most favorable. 
So, when such a wind is blowing from the German 
lines toward your own, keep constantly on the 
watch for gas, both day and night. If a strong 
wind is in evidence, there is very little danger, 
because the gas will be swept past your trenches 
before it has time to work much harm. If the 
wind is very light and uncertain, the gas has not 
much chance of reaching your lines, — ^in fact, this 
is very dangerous to the attacking side, for if the 
wind suddenly changes, the gas will be blown back, 
and "the gassers" are liable to become ''the 
gassed." This has happened a few times in the 
war, especially on the Eastern Front. 

Gas to be sent over, must be discharged under 
high pressure from metal cylinders or tanks, or 



Fighting Fire with Fire 245 

forced through tubes pointing in the direction of 
the enemy. When the gas leaves these tubes it 
makes a hissing sound similar to that of escaping 
steam. When it is quiet and the trenches are not 
far apart this hissing can be readily heard. 

As gas is heavier than air, it settles on the ground 
and, caught by the wind, rolls across No Man's 
Land like a fog bank coming inshore. When the 
gas cloud reaches the trenches it settles down into 
the low parts and dugouts. Therefore, during a 
gas attack, a soldier should occupy the highest point 
he can reach without exposing himself to the enemy. 
But he must never leave his post to do so. 

Several kinds of gas were used while 
I was in the trenches in 1915 and 191 6 ^^®*^^Q^f 
and they are still being employed. 
Arsenic and phosphorous gas may be easily de- 
tected b}^ the odor, which resembles garlic. 
Arsenic gas is used by the tube or pipe method. 
To clear the trenches from the fumes, plentifully 
sprinkle chloride of lime around, especially in the 
low spots. The fumes will be readily dispersed. 

The other gases are in liquefied form: chlorine, 
phosgene gas, chlorine -bromine, sulphuretted 
hydrogen, etc. They are discharged from cylin- 
ders. To clean out the trenches vermeral spray- 



246 First Call 

ers filled with a solution of hyposulphite, washing 
soda, and water are used. Dugouts should never 
be occupied after a gas attack until they are well 
sprayed and an officer pronounces them thoroughly 
clean of the poisonous fumes. 

The killing power of gas is effective as far back 
as three to four miles from the fire trench. In a 
few instances it has been felt from twelve to fifteen 
miles behind the Hues. 

One disadvantage of the "wind method'* is 
that the attacking force can never set a definite 
time for a gas attack, as they must rely on the 
elements. Gas cannot be sent over successfully 
when it is raining, so, in the trenches, even wet 
weather has its advantages as well as drawbacks. 

Before going any further, this caution should 
be emphasized : 

Never remove your gas helmet until officially told 
to do so by an officer. 

In the second method, in which shells and gren- 
ades containing Hquid gas are used, it is com- 
paratively easy to distinguish a gas shell landing 
near you. It makes the same noise as a '*dud" 
(nickname for a shell which fails to explode). 
The gas shell, as it strikes the groimd, smashes 
like an over ripe melon dropped from a height. 



Fighting Fire with Fire 247 

The liquid is scattered in a small circle and soaks 
into the earth. The fumes are hardly noticeable 
at first but work quickly with deadly results. 
Many soldiers are ardent souvenir hunters and 
as soon as a "dud" shell lands in their vicinity 
there is a race to get the nose cap. This is a 
dangerous practice, even if it is not a gas shell, 
because many times, in trying to unscrew the nose 
cap, an explosion results and another little wooden 
cross is planted. 

Never go near a " dud " until hotus after. This 
wait will give the fimies time to disperse, if it 
happens to be a gas shell, but it does not remove 
the danger of trying to unscrew a nose cap. 

If a man thinks that he has inhaled gas fumes 

from a shell, he should lie on his back away from the 

point of impact of the shell, and remain quiet until 

he is removed on a stretcher to the nearest dressing 

station where he will receive medical attention. 

At night, in the trenches, there are ^ 

, Tips for Gas 

sentries always on guard in each fire- 
bay, while out in front there are listening posts. 
To guard against surprise gas attacks a system of 
warnings has been devised. Naturally the men on 
the listening posts, as they are nearer the enemy, 
will first discover the presence of gas. These 



248 rirst Call 

posts, through prearranged signals, are in com- 
munication with sentries in the fire trench. Close 
to the sentries is a gas gong. This is generally an 
empty shell case suspended from the parapet, 
sometimes a triangular piece of steel or iron. 
Close to the gong hangs a short piece of iron called 
a striker. Sometimes Strombon horns, are used. 

Upon the first indications of gas, the sentry 
either beats the gas gong with the iron striker or 
operates the Strombon. Then, before stopping to 
put on his gas helmet, it is his duty to warn the 
occupants of the section of trench he is guarding 
that gas is coming over. 

Gas gongs are hung as far back as fifteen miles 
behind the lines to warn men in reserve and rest 
billets to be on the alert. Some of the gongs and 
horns used can be heard for a mile or more. 

In the day time sentries in the trenches are 
posted at periscopes and the same method of 
alarm is used. 

One thing a soldier thanks the gas for is the fact 
that it kills his objectionable neighbors, the rats. 

When Sammy reaches France, or 

Gas Helmets perhaps on his departure from the 

United States, gas helmets (commonly 

known as gas masks, gas bags, smoke helmets or 



Fighting Fire with Fire 249 

respirators) will be issued. Perhaps he will re- 
ceive the Box Respirator, the latest invention, or 
the P. G. cloth helmet, as these have proven very 
effective on the Westeiii Front. 

This helmet is made of cloth, treated with a 
sticky chemical substance, and is shaped like a 
bag about two feet long. In it are two round 
glass eyes fitted into metal sockets; around these 
sockets and inside the helmet, is a thick lining of 
spongy poms rubber. There is a metal tube cov- 
ered with rubber which fits in the mouth. On 
the end of this tube which projects from the 
helmet is a rubber valve. 

Each soldier carries two of these helmets, 
wrapped in a waterproof casing, in a canvas bag 
or pouch, slung around his shoulder by means of 
a canvas strap. He should never, even while 
sleeping, let these helmets leave his person. 

When the alarm is sounded, helmets should be 

adjusted in this manner: 

The two essentials to be considered . . 

Adjustment 

are speed and proper adjustment. A 
soldier through practice ought to be able to put 
on his gas helmet properly in eighteen seconds or 
less. Keep cool, but waste no time in doing so; 
seconds mean life or death to you. 



250 First Call 

First unbutton the two top buttons of your 
blouse; take out your helmet; remove the water- 
proof covering. Place the helmet over your 
head, making siire that the eye sockets are facing 
front; then carefully, but quickly tuck the ends 
well under the collar, seeing that the part around 
the back of the neck is tight and well tucked in. 
The end of the helmet in front must not be bunched 
up, — smooth it out, so that no folds or channels 
are left for the gas to enter. Then securely but- 
ton the blouse, ttirn up the collar, and where 
possible, tie something tightly around the neck, 
but not so tight as to interfere with breathing. 
Tape from the helmet carrier is practicable. This 
will prevent the gas penetrating the imiform 
and working up under the loose ends of the 
helmet. 

Place the mouth-piece in the mouth, adjust the 
goggles or eye sockets so that they are in place over 
the eyes, get on the highest ground possible, and 
then laugh at Fritz's example of Kultur. 

The poison gas penetrates the cloth helmet but 
the chemicals purify it, so you are breathing com- 
paratively pure air. Breathe through your nose. 
Always keep the tube in the mouth. Exhale the 
foul air through this tube. The rubber valve on 



Fighting Fire with Fire 251 

the end of the tube allows exhaling but closes 
and prevents inhaling. This prevents drawing the 
outside gas into the lungs. 

If you feel gas working through your helmet, do 
not wait until you are overcome with the fumes, — 
no doubt your helmet is in some way defective, so 
change helmets immediately in this manner: 

Untie the tape around your neck; get out your 

other helmet; remove the waterproof covering; 

hold the loose ends in one hand so that no gas can 

get in; unbotton the blouse as before. Now take 

a deep breath, grasp the old helmet at the top with 

the right hand and with a quick jerk pull it off 

and throw it away. Now you are exposed to the 

gas. There will be a great temptation to draw in 

a deep breath, but even if your lungs seem to be 

bursting, do not breathe because it means probable 

death to you, and a horrible one at that. Quickly 

put on your new helmet, being careful not to allow 

any more gas than possible to enter it. Adjust 

as before. Put the mouth-piece in the mouth 

before exhaling. 

Even though each soldier is supplied 

Emergencies 
with two helmets, it sometimes happens 

that through carelessness or accident a man gets 

caught in a gas attack without his helmet. Here 



252 First Call 

are a few tips which may perhaps save your life 
if you happen to be the one who is caught. 

These methods are objectionable and crude but 
still their use is preferable to being gassed. They 
have been tried, especially in the earlier stages of 
the war, with varying success. Of course do not 
rely on these to carry you through the attack, neg- 
lecting the precautions before given. Still they 
will probably save you in an emergency until you 
have time to secure a helmet or to reach an ad- 
vanced dressing station. 

1. Take your handkerchief, scarf, muffler, or a 
piece of your undershirt ; put into this a couple of 
handfuls of damp earth {not mud, for you cannot 
breathe through it) and tie the cloth tightly over the 
nose and mouth. 

2. Take any woolen article handy and wet it, 
using the water in your water bottle or canteen; 
wring it out, and tie it over the nose and mouth. 

3. A scarf, folded into six or eight folds, satu- 
rated with tea or soda solution and held over the 
nose, will also do in an emergency. Breathe 
through the nose. It may be possible to get the 
soda solution from one of the buckets which have 
been placed in the trench by the medical corps, for 
use in mixing the solution for the sprayers. 



Fighting Fire with Fire 253 

4. Get a piece of sandbag, a sock, scarf, or 
comforter and urinate on it; wring it out suf- 
ficiently to enable breathing. This is a very repul- 
sive method, but when your life depends on it, 
lines cannot be drawn too fine. 

If a man is wounded during a gas attack, do not 
remove his helmet or place him in a dugout or low 
part of the trench; put him on top of the ground 
even though he be exposed to fire. It is better to 
take the chance of his being hit again than to con- 
demn him to almost certain death in a hole or 
dugout. 

Another factor to be considered when „ _ 

" Tear SheU '♦ 

dealing with "Gas" is the lachrymose 
chemical shell, or "tear shell " as it is called, so nick- 
named because it brings water or tears to the eyes. 

This shell has no permanent ill effects, — it 
simply causes a severe smarting and watering of 
the eyes, temporarily blinding ^the soldier during 
an attack. 

If your eyes begin to smart and water, do not 
rub them, but keep on moving forward and they 
will soon clear. 

To combat "tear shells," goggles have been is- 
sued, with square mica eye-holes. They look like 
the masks worn at a masquerade party, only they 



254 First Call 

are khaki in color. There is a Httle spring that grips 
the nose and two pieces of tape sewn on the mask. 

As soon as you feel the effects of a^^tear shell, '* 
put on your goggles, passing the ends of the tape 
around the back of the head, from front to rear; 
then bring the ends around to the forehead and tie 
them tightly in front, using a bow knot. 

A good stunt is smearing the inside edges of the 
' ' tear shell " goggles with grease or vaseline. The 
cloth will then stick to the face and prevent the 
chemical from getting in under the edges. Do not 
use bacon grease, because the salt in it is liable to 
work into the eyes, causing smarting. 

A few "Don'ts" in reference to gas helmets: 

If you lose your gas helmet, don't wait until 
to-morrow, it might be too late then — report the 
fact to your officer or N. C. O. and get a new one 
immediately. 

Don't expose your gas helmet to the air, because 
the chemical quickly evaporates. 

Don't go without your helmet, — even for one 
minute. 

Don't try to improve on it, — experts are paid 
for that. 

Don't borrow a helmet for inspection if yours is 
defective — turn your old one in and get a new one. 




u. &u. 



A Flame-Thrower. 




'm^^' 



A Gas Helmet. 



Fighting Fire with Fire 255 

In accordance with their dastardly system of 
Kultur, the Germans were the first to intro- 
duce and employ the use of liquid fire in this 
war. Again I must emphasize the fact 
that while in fighting an honorable 
enemy international rules of warfare should be 
strictly followed, in this war our enemy is far from 
being honorable. We are fighting uncivilized 
savages and the only way to successfully com- 
bat such people is to adopt and turn their own 
methods and weapons against them. 

In February, 1915, at Malancourt, and later at 
Vaquoisin March, 19 15, the Germans made their 
first use of liquid fire against the French forces. 
Liquid fire is simply petroleum kept under high 
pressure in cylinders or tanks. It is really a 
mass of burning globules of oil and has a terrible 
effect on the men it sprays. They suffer agony. 
The method used in attacking is as follows : 

A cylinder, greatly resembling a fire extinguisher 
is strapped to the back of a soldier; a pipe with a 
nozzle like that on a garden hose leads from the 
cylinder. This nozzle is like a valve and can be 
operated at will by the man, projecting or shut- 
ting off the jet or spray of flaming liquid. The 
jet has a range of twenty-five to forty feet. 



256 First Call 

Liquid fire causes a dense black smoke which 
often obscures the man carrying the cyHnder. 
This -fire cannot be used in the face of a strong 
wind, as it would be blown back upon the attackers 
with dire results. It takes considerable nerve for 
troops to resist an attack of this kind but they 
have successfully done this many times and are 
still doing it. Sometimes, where the trenches are 
very close together, liquid fire has been projected 
from the German trenches into those of the French. 
This has been effected by pumps operated by hand 
or motors, but a very light grade of petroleum 
must be used in this method. Often the oil fails 
to remain burning after it has been projected into 
the air but it may be again ignited by bursting 
bombs. 

In certain instances on the Western Front liquid 
fire has been successfully combated by the digging 
of ditches at night, in front of the trench, and fdling 
these with some porous material soaked in heavy 
oils or tar, and so arranged that it may be promptly 
Hghted. Sometimes gas lines were laid for this 
purpose ; sometimes fire balls were used. The heat 
and flames from the fire in these ditches dissipate 
the jets of liquid fire, causing them to rise and 
disburse. 



CHAPTER XXIX 



THE ATTACK 



"\ X T^HEN a man joins the army he is very curi- 
^ ' ous to see how he will look in uniform 
(I know this from personal experience). As soon 
as he gets into army clothes he makes a rush for 
the nearest looking-glass. His uniform may be a 
couple of sizes too small or may be too large — it 
makes no difference to him. The picture of a 
wonderful soldier is flashed back at him from the 
glass. His imagination ''carries on" further and 
he sees himself gloriously leading a charge, with 
men dropping all around him, shells biu-sting and 
bullets kicking up the dirt everywhere. This is 
his idea of a charge. As a matter of fact it is quite 
different now on the Western Front, although 
in other wars, when open fighting was the order, 
the soldier's above fancies may have been near the 
truth (that is eliminating the personal factor). 
How is an attack conducted on the Western Front? 
17 257 



258 First Call 

The preparations as well as the actual attack are 

very complicated and beautiful pieces of work. 

Eveiy branch of the service is represented and 

has its important part to play. 

^ . The troops that have been holding 

Preparation ° 

the line prior to the attack are us- 
ually not the ones selected to go over the top in the 
actual charge. They are generally relieved the 
day previous by fresh troops, which have been 
billeted anywhere from five to ten kilos behind 
the lines, and have known that they are to go over 
the top at least two or three days prior to the 
actual taking over of the trenches. These two 
or three days are busy periods for them. All 
equipment, rifles, gas masks, first-aid packets, 
etc., are carefully inspected, unserviceable stuff 
condemned and new issued in its place. Equip- 
ment that is not to be used in the actual attack is 
turned in to the Company Quartermaster. This 
consists of blankets, packs, and personal belong- 
ings. Officers in each platoon make a personal 
check of each man's next of kin, so that relatives 
can be notified by the government in case of 
wounding or death. 

Generally the attack is rehearsed and each unit 
is informed of the part it must play. If possible, 



The Attack 259 

a few hours before taking over the trench, the 
men take baths, and clean underwear is issued to 
them, — this to prevent infection of wounds. 
The Royal Engineers get busy, and the night pre- 
vious to the attack (it generally taking place at 
dawn), they place scaling ladders in the front line 
trenches. These ladders are of wood, from seven 
to eight feet long. They are placed against the 
parapet, securely held by wooden stakes driven 
into the front wall of the trench, and nailed to the 
sides of the ladders. Only one man is able to go 
up a ladder at a time. Stakes are also driven into 
the parapet, making a kind of ladder or stairway 
by means of which men are enabled to climb out 
of the trench. The Royal Engineers, under cover 
of darkness, cut winding lanes through the barbed 
wire to allow the passage of the attacking troops 
at dawn. 

Extra ammunition is issued in canvas bando- 
liers, each containing fifty rounds. Every man 
in the attack carries two or more of these 
bandoliers. 

On the Western Front the element of 

The 

surprise is usually eliminated from at- 3^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 

tack, on account of the artillery prelude 

required. A host of batteries bombard the enemy 



26o First Call 

lines from two hours to four or five days before 
the attack. The barbed wire and other defenses 
must be smashed to a pulp before the infantry 
go "over the top." As soon as the intense bom- 
bardment opens, the defenders of the enemy 
trenches realize that an infantry attack will 
probably follow. 

At a time designated from Headquarters, the 
SiTtiilery opens up. The small caliber guns, 
eighteen pounders up to "four fives," land in 
the enemy front line trench and barbed wire, 
playing havoc with these strong defenses. The 
larger caliber guns ("four fives" up to the big fif- 
teen-inch howitzers) throw their shells farther 
behind the lines, searching out machine-gun 
emplacements, enemy artillery, dugouts, ammuni- 
tion dumps, etc. Under cover of this bombard- 
ment, reserve troops are moved up and massed 
behind the lines. About an hour before the time 
planned for the attack, these troops move up to 
the front line, completely filling the communica- 
tion trenches. At the time designated, which is 
generally about four o'clock in the morning, the 
artillery lifts its barrage to a point farther behind 
the enemy lines and the successive lines of attack- 
ers or "waves," as they are called, go over, under 



The Attack 261 

the protection of this overhead fire. In the first 
part of the war a charge was made on the run, 
but it was found that the stronger and braver 
hit the Hnes first. The shock was scattering, 
a man here and there hitting the Hne, and the 
defenders could more easily repel the attack. 
Now the troops march steadily forward, with in- 
tervals of a few feet between the men. As some 
are hit, the ranks close, filling in the gaps. More 
men are lost in crossing No Man's Land, by 
this method, but when the wave hits the line, 
the shock of impact is concentrated. The defend- 
ers have their hands busy, and the trench is surer 
of capture. 

After the attacking forces have ^ 

Consolidatioii 

taken the front line sector of the 
enemy trenches, they consolidate or "dig in." This 
means that they prepare or fortify their captured 
position in order to repel counter attacks launched 
against them by the enemy. You must understand 
that the enemy trench, just attacked, has been 
built with the idea of repelling our frontal attack 
— therefore after the trench is taken it means that 
we must reverse the order of things and strengthen 
the rear wall of the trench which is now our 
front. 



262 First Call 

While this taking and consolidating 
of Fire" ^^ ^^^ enemy trench is going on, the 
artillery has established what is called 
a "curtain of fire," a few hundred yards in the 
rear of the captured front line enemy trench, by 
the constant dropping of high explosive shells 
in a straight line across their communication 
trenches. It is impossible for the defenders of 
the trench to retreat through this "curtain of 
fire" and equally impossible to send supplies, 
ammunition, or reinforcements to the defenders. 

After the captured front line trench is sufficiently 
consolidated, at a specified time, the curtain of fire 
lifts and is established still farther in the enemy 
lines. Fresh troops have arrived to reinforce the 
original attackers. These troops, upon the hfting 
of the curtain fire, move forward and take the new 
sector, and after capturing, consolidate it. Then 
again the curtain of fire is lifted and established 
still farther on, a new sector is taken, and so on 
until the objective is obtained. 

On the Western Front a very clever 

mo e method is also used by which the 

Barrage -^ 

movements of the troops, especially 
in an attack, are covered up and screened, namely 
— dropping Stokes bombs or "smoke shells" 



The Attack 263 

between the enemy and our troops. The smoke 
barrage is very useful in an attack. 

The artillery by use of these shells, which 
emit a dense white smoke when exploding, are 
able to establish a curtain of smoke across the 
entire front of the enemy, if the wind is not blow- 
ing hard. It appears like a thick fog, and if there 
is no wind, will hug the ground for a long period. 
In a large attack the smoke barrage is generally 
used two or three times before the charge really 
takes place. 

A nerve-racking ruse was tried during the 
three days before the commencing of the battle 
of the Somme. The artillery would bombard the 
German lines intensely for about two hours; 
then a smoke barrage would be thrown across No 
Man's Land, thus giving the Germans the idea 
that our troops were coming over. The Fritzes 
would then turn loose with shrapnel, machine- 
gun and rifle fire, while we were sitting in our 
trenches laughing at their "windy" efforts. Then 
the smoke cleared away. They must have felt 
very cheap to find that they had been firing at 
nothing. The next day the same ruse was worked, 
and again the Germans turned loose; once again 
on the following day the program was repeated. 



264 First Call 

By this time the Germans' nerves must have 
been shattered, for on the morning of the real 
attack, when the smoke barrage was again turned 
on their Hnes, very Httle firing took place, and in 
many sectors of the line, the English troops ad- 
vanced almost within striking distance of the 
German lines before they were fired upon. 

In going through a smoke barrage, a soldier 
either wears his gas mask or "tear shell" goggles. 
While advancing through a smoke barrage he has 
a very peculiar sensation (at least I did). He is 
able to see nothing around him and imagines that 
he is all alone. He feels that his comrades have 
forsaken him and that he alone is attacking the 
whole German army. Perhaps he will pause and 
falter until a gruff voice within a few feet of him 
lets out an oath as he stumbles over something on 
the ground or hears a cry of pain as a man. is 
hit. Then at last he comes into his own and 
"carries on." 

Even grim warfare has its amusing 
Tanks . . . 

side. I think the funniest thing I ever 

saw in France was the first tank going into action. 

This, as you have probably noticed from the 

motion pictures now in this country, is a huge 

armored car, built on a tractor. It crosses, in its 



The Attack 265 

awkward, lumbering way, trenches, craters, de- 
pressions, and cuts the barbed wire. Nothing 
stands against it, and it is proof against missiles 
of all kinds, except an H. E. shell, which records 
a direct hit. 

The Germans have not used it because it is 
only effective on the offensive and the Huns have 
been on the defensive, practically since Verdun. 
They have made no attacks; they have only 
countered. 

These tanks going into action and crossing 
No Man's Land look like giant toads, or some 
leviathan, prehistoric animals. On their first 
appearance whole battalions almost forgot to 
fight and shouted with laughter, so ridiculous were 
the motions of these strange iron monsters. 



CHAPTER XXX 



TRENCH RAIDS 



A T the best, a trench raid is a very risky and 
'^^ unpleasant job. Men are very seldom 
detailed for this work; a call for volunteers is 
usually made. It isn't necessary to volunteer 
for every raid that comes along, but don't be a 
worm and let the other fellow do it all. It never 
feels as fine to slap a returning successful trench 
raider on the back and say, "Good work, Jones, 
old boy," as it does to be Jones and get slapped 
on the back. 

If you adopt "for keeps" this old trench saying, 
"If you're going to get it, you'll get it," you will 
find that Mr. Worry disappears "over the top'* 
and your spirits rise to a great height, dragging 
your actions with them. 

It is morning — you have volunteered for a 

trench raid, which is going to take place that 

night. Don't "mill" over the fact that you are 

266 



Trench Raids 267 

likely to be captured, killed, or wounded; this 

will sap your nerve and clog your thinking-machine. 

Just forget the killed and wounded stuff and get 

ready. Brain fag will not win wars; it is the use 

of ordinary common sense which makes 

victories possible. Many military men General 

Common 
and others may throw up their hands Sense 

at the apparent ignorance of this last 
statement, — but go back in history and figure it 
out for yourself. Get nearer home and review this 
war, battle for battle, and campaign for campaign, 
and you will find that all of the victories were won 
by old General Common Sense. 

When you get a chance (and if you do not get 
a chance, make one), ask the officer in charge of 
the raid what the raiders are supposed to accom- 
plish; and find out at what part of the trench 
they are to go "over the top," and the exact spot 
at which they are supposed to enter the German 
trench. Go to the section of trench where the 
raiders are to go over, and with the aid of a peri- 
scope, photograph on your mind a picture of the 
terrain you must cross in No Man's Land. Note 
the rises in the ground, deep grass, shell holes, 
and the places which will afford cover if the raid 
is a failure and the German fire is hot. 



268 First Call 

Before the raiding party goes "over the top," 
each man is inspected to make sure that nothing is 
carried which will betray to the enemy the name 
of his regiment, brigade, or division. If a man is 
killed or taken prisoner, in a German trench, he is 
immediately taken before an officer detailed for 
that purpose, and searched, in order to find out 
what troops are occupying the English trenches. 
The enemy have gained valuable military informa- 
tion when they learn whom they are opposing, 
because each battalion, brigade, and division has 
a peculiar fighting method of its own. These 
methods are well-known to the efficient Higher 
German Officers and they can better prepare for 
attack, when once they know the identity of the 
units opposite. 

Identification disks, pay books, let- 
BehMd ^^^^' P^P^^S' ^^^ regimental insignia, 

and the uniform are left behind in 
charge of your platoon officer or captain. There- 
fore if you are killed or captured you will be re- 
ported in the Allied casualty Hsts as "missing,'* 
but as "unknown" in the German records if you 
are killed (there being nothing to properly 
identify you). 

Uncertainty is even worse for the folks at 



Trench Raids 269 

home than actual knowledge of your fate. To 
prevent the harrowing anxiety of months, in which 
they receive no word from you, write a letter 
before you go on a trench raid. Make it as cheer- 
ful as possible under the circumstances. Tell 
them that you are going on the raid and that if 
they receive the letter you will be either captured 
or killed. Upon receipt of this letter they can 
be on the alert and watch for the lists of men 
taken prisoners. The warring countries, through 
neutral consulates, at intervals exchange these 
lists. Then, if your name does not appear on 
these lists, the folks will know that you are dead. 
After writing this letter carefully, address same 
and turn it over to your captain with instructions 
to mail it if you do not return with the raiding 
party. The captain will be glad to do this for 
you. 

Now that you have attended to this revert 
to more material things. Go to your dugout or 
billet and carefully assemble your equipment. 
Arrange it in a neat and compact bundle. If 
you are killed, you will not need it again, but some 
other fellow will. And anyway it will save others 
trouble. 

Remember that successful war means team work 



270 First Call 

and that every article that is saved will shorten 
the war and cut down the cost. You are supposed 
to sacrifice your life for Uncle Sam, — well go one 
better and save him trouble after you are dead. 
It seems like sending a fellow to the undertaker's 
to order his own coffin but if everyone did this 
it would make things easier for the folks left 
behind. 

After arranging your equipment, get busy with 
your personal effects, such as letters from home, 
souvenirs, trinkets, mementos, etc. Put them 
in your ration bag; use an indelible pencil and 
carefully label it with your rank, name, number, 
company, regiment, brigade, and division. Also 
put the name and address of your next of kin on 
it. Perhaps it may reach him or her. Do not 
put any worthless junk into this bag, it will only 
take up room and add weight. 

After doing this, leave the bag in care of your 
chum or bunkie, with instructions for him to watch 
out for the returning trench raiders and ascertain 
if you are wounded. If you are wounded he 
can take the bag to the dressing station and the 
medical corps men will see that it is attached to 
your wrist or ankle, and then, when you arrive at 
a permanent hospital, it will not be necessary to 



Trench Raids 271 

rave about the government appropriating your 
personal effects. 

A L'ttl Learn a few phrases in German, — 

German you may need them on the raid (See 
Appendix). "Auf mit deiner hande" (Up with 
your hands) and "Komm' mit mir" (Come with 
me) are the two I hope you will use. It may not 
be perfect German but Fritz can understand 
Chinese when he sees a Sammy in front of him. 
You must remember too that your work will be 
done in the dark where motions of the hands 
cannot be seen, so phrases will come in handy. 

Do not wear your steel helmet on a raid; it is 
cumbersome, awkward, and heavy while crawl- 
ing on the ground. In its place, wrap a heavy 
knitted woolen scarf around the head, taking care 
that it does not pass over the ears, because you 
will have to depend chiefly upon the sense of hear- 
ing. Remember trenches are only raided on the 
blackest of nights and that your eyes are practically 
useless. 

If you carry a revolver, unbutton the flap of the 
holster before getting in touch with the German 
barbed wire, because when you do need a revolver 
or pistol, you need it badly. Remember to place 
a lanyard on your revolver, — this is important 



2-2 First Call 

because you are ver}' liable to lose it in crawl- 
ing across Xo Plan's Land. Losing my revolver 
while on a reconnoitering patrol in Xo Avian's 
Land nearly cost me my life. Xever take a stiff: 
holster with you, because it prevents a quick 
draw. 

Blacken your hands, face, and neck. 
Blacken Up "^ 

Do not be careless in this important 
feature. Daub it on thickly. Take off your tunic 
or blouse and blacken up to the elbows. Perhaps 
3'ou will ask where blacking can be obtained in a 
trench. 

The best blacking is made this way. Get a 
cork from a pickle bottle, — ^if there are none in 
your dugout or billet, the "non-com" in charge 
of rations will give you one, — bum this cork. 
Then take your mess tin, put a Httle butter or 
jam in it, and mix thoroughly with the burned cork 
until you have a black paste. Jam is better than 
butter because it is more adhesive and will not 
rub off easily. If possible, do not use bacon 
grease because the salt in it is hable to get into 
the eyes and smart the skin. Close your eyes 
and blacken the Hds. 

If you cannot obtain a cork, hold the bottom 
of your mess tin over a lighted candle and use the 



Trench Raids 273 

soot, mixing it with jam or butter. ^Matches 
can also be used but this takes a long time and 
you are liable to forget that the mess tin is hot 
and badly bum your fingers. 

Another way: Use the black grease from the 
sides of a "dixie" or iron stew pot. The cooks 
will be glad to let you do this because you are 
cleaning their pots at the same time. Use a greasy 
rag to rub off this grease. 

Blacking up is ver\- important for this reason. 
When you enter the German trenches you have 
to work quickly, — perhaps only six minutes have 
been allotted in which to inflict casualties, secure 
a prisoner, vacate the trench, race madly across 
No Man's Land imder a hot fire to your own 
trenches. In the German trench you will therefore 
have to work as quietly and quickly as possible. 
— ^it wouldn't do to shout out in English because 
this is a surprise raid and you do not want to 
advertise the fact that you are in the trench. 

You are fighting hand to hand in a strange and 
narrow trench. It is hard to distinguish friend 
from foe. Black face means friend y white face 
means German. You can see them, while they 
cannot see you. 

Then too while crossing Xo Man's Land in 

x8 



274 First Call 

the glare of a German star shell, a black face does 
not show as clearly as a white one. 

Another tip: Take two pairs of old heavy 
woolen socks. Cut off the feet, pass your legs 
through and cover the knees, using them as you 
would a rubber athletic knee supporter. Do the 
same with the elbows. Remember that you have 
to crawl across No Man's Land on your elbows 
and knees. The sock covering will save many 
bruises from stones and sharp objects which you 
cannot avoid in the darkness. 

Each man should carry an illuminated wrist 
watch, well covered by the sleeve of the blouse or 
tunic, because everything is done by time on a 
trench raid and you may get separated from the 
rest while in the German trench. You do not 
want to return ahead of time and you do not want 
to stay overtime in the trench. As a wrist watch 
can be seen for several yards in the darkness, 
cover the watch with the sleeve so that its bright 
light will not betray you. 

If, through an oversight on the part of the officer 
in charge,, you have not been so instructed, ask 
him for the password. Down in his heart he 
may thank you for reminding him of this very 
important detail. When .you learn the password, 



Trench Raids 275 

remember it. It may save your life. When you 
are returning from a trench raid the speed clutch 
is generally open, — bang, you run into your own 
wire. Although the sentries in your trench have 
been notified not to fire as a trench raiding party 
is out in front, still the sentry might be nervously 
constructed. In his excitement he may forget 
the precaution and, after challenging, fire, perhaps 
killing or wounding you. It is funny what silly 
and incoherent replies the challenged makes, under 
these conditions, when challenged by a sentry in 
the darkness. Remember that password and give it 
immediately. 

If ordered to carry bombs on the raid (four per 
man are usually taken), carry them in the lower 
pockets of your tunic or blouse, two in the right 
and two in the left. If wounded in either arm, 
with your unwounded one you can readily reach 
two of the bombs. See that the buttons for the 
flaps of the pockets are sewed on secxirely or you 
may lose your bombs when crawling. Be careful 
to button these flaps and occasionally, while on 
your way, feel to see that they have not become 
unbuttoned. A bullet will not explode a bomb 
loaded with ammonal. 

Usually a lane must be cut through your 



aye First Call 

own barbed wire to allow the passage of the raiders 
into No Man's Land. Sometimes the under- 
ground passage to a listening post or sap is used. 
When you return it is difficult to find in the dark- 
ness and you are in a hurry, therefore, before leav- 
ing your trench try and pick out some distinctive 
mark in the landscape which will serve as a 
^uide to this passage. Do not rely on your 
officer to lead you back, for he may be killed or 
wounded. 

A good stunt for a raiding party is worked in 
this way : Tie two pieces of white tape to barbed- 
wire stakes, one on each side of the passage. The 
man on the right and the one on the left of the raid- 
ing line (they crawl in extended order formation) 
carry these balls of tape, generally in their pockets, 
and unwind the tape as they crawl forward, 
leaving a white guide post behind to show the 
w^ay back. 

A bombing club is a handy weapon to 
Weapons 

take on a trench raid . The one we used 

was made of hard wood, about eighteen inches 

long, and shaped like a cave man's club. The 

handle is thin, but thick enough to afford a good 

grip. Through the hole in this handle is a leather 

thong. The loop is passed around the wrist, 



Trench Raids 2-]^ 

making it easier to carry while crawling (just let 
it drag). The other end is thick, forming a large 
knob. The outside of this knob is studded with 
sharp steel spikes. Down the center of the club 
is a bar of lead or iron to give it weight and balance. 
This club makes a very handy weapon in a narrow 
trench. One of its chief assets is that it is noiseless. 

Another good weapon is the "knuckle knife" 
or trench dagger. The blade is of heavy steel, 
about eight inches long. The grip is reinforced 
over the knuckles with heavy steel bands (similar 
to brass knuckles). In a narrow trench you can 
either stab a man or shatter his jaw with a punch. 
One punch generally stuns him and it is an easy 
matter to take him prisoner. 

Occasionally, a prisoner shows fight and refuses 
to go along with his captor. Perhaps in the excite- 
ment and darkness of No Man's Land he may 
escape and return to his own trenches. To pre- 
vent this, before you go "over the top," make 
what we called a "come-along." 

Get a strand of barbed wire about 

r £1 t ±. ^ 1 1 The " Come- 

f our or five feet long ; make a loop on ^ „ 

one end, about a foot in diameter; 

then with your wire-cutter remove the barbs on 

the other end and make a smaller loop just large 



278 First Call 

enough to allow the passage of your hand through 
it, thus securing a firm grip on the wire. 

When you get a prisoner, pass the larger loop 
over his head so that the barbs will stick into his 
neck if he baulks. After you place one of these 
" come-alongs " around the neck of a Fritz, he is 
as peaceful as a lamb. 

Remember that there must be no talking or 
giving orders in No Man's Land; it is a surprise 
attack and quiet is essential to the success of the 
raid. Therefore it is necessary to have noiseless 
signals in giving orders. Although the entire 
party is told exactly what to do before starting 
on the raid, you can readily see that orders must 
be given, because soldiers have a habit of forget- 
ting and confusing instructions. 

In our raid, the officer was on the right of the 
line most of the time. Occasionally when we had 
come to a halt, he would crawl down the entire 
length of the line to see or feel that everything was 
O. K. I was on the extreme left. That after- 
noon before going " over the top " he had in- 
structed us in a code of tap signals which later 
proved very effective. 

This was the scheme : 

He would twice tap the man on his left. Upon 



Trench Raids 279 

feeling the two taps, this man would tap the man 
on his left twice, and so on down the line until 
the two taps reached me. Upon the receipt of 
these taps, I would tap the man on my right 
and the one tap would be passed up the line until 
the officer received it, — then he would know that 
his signal had been received and was understood 
by all of the men and that they were ready to 
obey it. Two taps meant: "Crawl forward 
slowly for five yards, halt, and await further 
orders." 

In all, we had four signals — it is bad policy to 
have more, because the men are liable to forget ot 
confuse them. The simpler they are the better. 

The success of a trench raid for prisoners de- 
pends on surprise. Larger operations such as 
bombing and company raids do not necessarily 
rely on surprise to be successful, because, before 
they go * 'over the top," it is customary to bombard 
the section of the German trench which is to be 
attacked. This is like sending Fritz a telegram 
reading thusly: "Dear Fritz, we will attack your 
trench as soon as our barrage lifts." But it is 
a necessary evil because the German barbed wire 
has to be demolished and their morale weakened 
by shell fire. 



28o .First Call 

Another great menace to a raiding 

StarSheUs . ^ . . ^ 

party is the star shell. This will not 

kill, but is dangerous because of the bright light 

it niakes, betra3dng the party. 

The official name for a star shell is ** Very light." 
It is simply a rocket, which before firing looks 
like a shot-gun shell. It is about foiir to six 
inches in length and about one inch in diameter. 
It is fired from a flare pistol, which is held in the 
hand and aimed over the top or parapet of the 
trench. The trigger is then pulled, — a sharp 
*'plop" report, a thin thread of red sparks describ- 
ing an arc in the air, then the star shell bursts, 
either in the air or after hitting the ground, de- 
pending on the elevation of the flare pistol when 
fired. Then follows a burst of intense white cal- 
cium light which bums from twenty to seventy 
seconds, lighting up No Man's Land in a large 
circle. 

There is another type used, called the " para- 
chute star shell." This is fired from a sa wed-off 
shot-gun and reaches a height of about fifty feet in 
the air. A parachute unfolds, a bright light bums, 
and the parachute slowly settles to the ground, 
lighting up a large circle beneath it. If the wind 
is blowing, this star shell ''travels" and is very 



Trench Raids 281 

effective. It covers more space and the enemy out 
in front have difficulty in avoiding its tell-tale light. 

Through costly experience ways have been 
found by men in No Man's Land to combat the 
light from star shells. Here is the correct method. 
Remember it because it may save your life later on. 

If a star shell should fall and burst in front of 
you — that is between you and the German trench 
— you are comparatively safe from detection, 
because the Germans cannot see you through the 
burning light. It is like trying to distinguish a 
motor car on a dark road while looking into its 
headlights. Even though the enemy cannot see 
you, it is safer to remain motionless, because if 
you are moving when the star shell begins to 
splutter out, the light then is not so intense and 
the enemy can spy the moving object. 

After crawling forward and getting within the 
range or "zone" of the star shells, or "star- shell 
zone," as it is called, you must keep your wits 
about you and exercise the greatest caution to 
escape detection. You can always see a star shell 
coming through the air, and, by its red trail, 
similar to the tail of a comet, can readily judge 
where it will land. As soon as this red trail 
disappears, drop to the ground and lie as flat as 



282 First Call 

possible. Keep the head and buttocks well doiim. 
Do not move — hardly breathe, because the least 
movement will betray you. Do not look up at 
the burning light or you will be temporarily blinded 
and will find it hard to see the trail of the next 
star shell. Under normal conditions star shells 
are sent up from the German trenches about every 
five or ten minutes, but if the Germans are nervous, 
or "windy" as we called it, star shells will drop 
into No Man's Land every minute or so. If you 
are advancing in the ''star-shell zone" and one 
unexpectedly bursts behind you, it is too late to 
drop to the ground. The movement will betray 
you. So as soon as the flare bursts, hold your 
position, no matter what it may be — just as if you 
were a statue. Do not move a muscle. You are 
in a dangerous position and must trust to luck. 
Your form looms up against the burning light 
as an indistinct blur to the German eyes. They 
won't fire until they are certain what the blur is 
— that is unless a nervous sentry is on guard. 
He is liable to fire at the moon and has just about 
as much chance of hitting you. So if you are fired 
at, don't duck, though it takes an awful lot of 
nerve to keep still. 

With a tell-tale movement the game is up. 



Trench Raids 283 

Perhaps they won't fire at the time you move but 
will concentrate the aim of their rifles, perhaps 
a whole platoon of them, on the spot where you 
were sighted. Then, out of their trench will come 
seven or eight star shells falling all about you and 
the raiding party — then a hail of rapid fire. Even 
if this happens do not spring to your feet and run 
madly back to your trench. If you do, it is dol- 
lars to doughnuts that you will be hit. Hug the 
ground as closely as possible and crawl back. At 
night a bullet fired from a trench generally goes 
high. The soldier is safe, if he is close to the 
ground. 

If the party approaches within a 
few yards of the front of the German 
barbed wire without being seen, the least noise 
spells failure of the raid and many casualties. 
Now, be on the lookout for the "trap wires," 
listening posts, reconnoitering patrols, and work- 
ing parties. 

"Trap wires" are barbed wires, strtmg about 
six inches from the ground and attached to small 
stakes, driven in the earth. These may cause 
nasty and noisy falls, laceration of the hands and 
knees and entangling of the uniform. The sound 
of the ripping betrays you to the enemy. 



284 First Call 

When the raiding party gets within a few 
yards of the German wire, three or four men, 
who have been previously detailed as ''scouts," 
armed with wire cutters, which are insulated with 
rubber, noiselessly crawl forward and reconnoiter, 
while the remainder of the party hug the ground 
and wait — ^just wait. This waiting is awful sus- 
pense, — the worst part of the whole raid. But 
soon the scouts return and you get the tap signal 
to "carry on." 

In the smaller raids you will always have to 
cut the wire, sometimes also in the larger raids, 
when the entanglement has not been sufficiently 
demolished by shell fire. This is hair-raising 
work, with the Germans so near that you can 
hear their conversation. 

The wire is very thick and ofttimes taut. To 
cut it noiselessly, grasp the strand about two inches 
from the stake with the left hand ; with your wire 
cutters in the right nip the wire and lower the 
severed end slowly and noiselessly to the ground, 
taking care not to touch another wire. Then cut 
this wire from the stake and place it out of the 
way. If you cut a taut wire in the middle, that is 
half way between the stakes to which it is attached, 
it will curl up perhaps hitting you in the face or 



Trench Raids 285 

becoming entangled in your uniform, and will 
also betray your presence to the Germans by the 
sound it makes, — a loud "twang" like the snap- 
ping of a banjo string. 

If the officer in charge considers it too risky 
to negotiate the wire, he will give the tap signal 
meaning "about turn" or "to the rear" — then 
you either return to your trenches or strike at 
another point. 

If the wire is successfully negotiated, then it is 
time to rush the trench, inflict as many casualties 
as possible, secure prisoners, then — back to your 
own trench. Remember that you went out after 
prisoners. Sometimes it is necessary to draw the 
fire of the enemy and sacrifice one's own life, so 
that your mates in charge of the prisoners will 
have a chance to get them across in safety. 

Do not feel ashamed if you are afraid while 
raiding a trench. Every time I went out I was 
"scared stiff." 



\v 



CHAPTER XXXI 

THE Vi-QirSDED 

HEN orders are received or information 
::iir-rl "hat an attack is to take place 
.-- ~ :jii; you are to be one of those who must 

go over the top,'* take a bath, if possible, and 
above all, put on clean underwear. In trench 
life facilities are not always available, but :r\- 
ani :-TrA to this. Missiles that wound a 
:::ir- zssry part of the underclothing 

in-Q thr : ri If not clean, infection is 
1 :':> :: : :. :~ T^iecially in hurts caused by 

iss:\ i:r:-- r-::::"-et bullets, or fragments of 

I: hi:, don't lose your nerve or become excited. 
Thr vrorst part of being wounded is not the pain, 
a^: rrrrraUy there is very little, — it is the suspense 
L-r.r the first tea to thirty seconds after being 
ju: ~hen one is trying to ascertain whether the 
•ji-iry is mortal or not. Above all things do not 



The Wounded 287 

go into a frenz^^ of fear — be cool and work quietly 

and quickly. 

First ascertain where and how badly 
First Aid ^ 

you are hit. If you are bleeding 

freely, it is easy to teU by the color and no^ 0" 
the blood whether a vein or artery is se* rri 
If a vein, the flow will be steady ani :l:e 
blood dark red; if an arter\-, the ~:~ is :erlr.- 
(from the 7 ur : : :: the heart ar. i ~\\~ : :r 
is a bright red. '^-et out y . :.- f.r ; : irt. 

is severe :! .^ce a tourniquet r.ear : i ::: 

the side farthest frcm th^ hr rt. If art artrry, 
place the tourniquet r.ear the ~ :anf ::. the side 

v."iil dnd a capsule of iodine. Pear ._r ..atettts 
into the open wound; use the icdine fre-ely — ^do 
not be afraid of an overdose f:r it :ar.n:t harra 
vou. Although it wiU cause a gc : . :! d :f smart- 
ing, still it may save your life or tla^ a: : :i:a 
of a limb. 

If you receive a body wound he stai — a a:: 
try to crawl in. Wait for the stre~ "'-':-. 
they wiU come. This caution is -}' 

necessary- h vou are hit in the stomach- 



288 First Call 

Do not drink water; simply moisten 
the mouth. This is very important. 

Fix your bandage intelligently, so that it keeps 
the wound free from dirt. Remem.ber that an 
improperiy bandaged wound causes more harm 
than good. If bones are broken, lie as still as 
possible, until help arrives. If you do not fuUy 
imderstand how to make and use a splint, forget 
about it, — let the doctors do it. 

If woimded out in Xo Avian's Land at night 
and there is heavy rifle, machine gun, or shrapnel 
fire all around, do not tr^' to crawl or hmp to 
your own lines. Probably you have lost all sense 
of direction and will land against the German 
barbed wire with dire results to yourself and your 
wounds. If daylight finds you lying wounded out 
in front, remain still, — do not lift your head or 
ciy- out, because some German follo\\ing the ethics 
of Kultur, so carefully taught him, will take delight 
in potting you. 

Remember when imder fire, the closer you hug 
the ground the safer you will be from a "stray," 
— in fact the chances are five himdred to one you 
won't be hit if you foUow the above advice. I 
know from actual experience. 

And don't cuss the stretcher-bearers, they will 



The Wounded 289 

rescue you in time. Their lives are as precious 
as yours. 

Remember that if wounded, you will leave your 
outfit or unit and perhaps France behind. Xo 
doubt you have some personal belongings of value, 
such as photos, letters, mementos from home, 
money, etc. These very likeh' will be in 3'our 
pack, left in a dugout or billet. If you are not 
seriously wounded and know what is going on 
around you, ask one of the stretcher-bearers to 
stop on his way to the advanced first-aid post and 
request one of your mates to bring the pack to the 
dressing station. The stretcher-bearer will do 
this for you, if he can. On the whole they are 
a fine lot of fellows. If there is no time for this. 
ask the medical officer or sergeant in charge, when 
you arrive at the dressing station, to send a man 
to your company commander or platoon officer, 
with the request that your pack be immediately 
sent to the dressing station. This will be done. 
^Tien the pack arrives, pick out only the things 
of most value. One of the medical men will put 
the trinkets into a little bag issued for this pur- 
pose. See that the bag is tied to your unwounded 
wrist or ankle. This insures the safety of 3^0 ur 

valuables. You must remember that the trip to 
19 



290 First Call 

the base hospital is a long one and that you will 

be moved several times. If the bag is lying loose 

on your stretcher, it generally disappears in the 

confusion — sort of gets lost in the shuffle. 

To give the rookie and the civilian 

xt-^TTr ^ J J some idea of the way a wounded man 
the Woimded -^ 

is cared for in France, the channels 
he passes through, and the noble work of the Red 
Cross, I will briefly summarize what happens 
from the time a man is hit until he at last reaches 
a hospital in England. The United States is too 
far from the scene of conflict to have her wounded 
sent home and the transports which would other- 
wise be used for hospital ships must be all devoted 
to the vitally necessary duties of carrying troops, 
supplies, and munitions. Then too the commanders 
of the t/-boats, the adders of the sea, have no 
conscience and often send Red Cross ships and their 
cargoes of wounded and nurses to the bottom. 
So most of our wounded will be cared for in French 
or English hospitals and many a Sammy will take 
the trip which I have taken, as I describe it below. 
If a man is wounded after he has gone "over 
the top" and is lying in No Man's Land, it may 
be some time before stretcher-bearers come to 
the rescue, and it is up to him to administer his 



The Wounded 291 

own first aid. But if he is hit while in a fire 
trench or behind the lines, assistance reaches him 
immediately, either at the hands of his mates or 
the stretcher-bearers. 

A few words on stretcher-bearers will not be 
amiss, because they are wonderful soldiers, 
good and true, — sheer grit to the backbone. A 
stretcher-bearer is not, as is commonly believed, 
a member of the medical corps. He is a company 
man who has been passed as "proficient" in a 
course of first aid or has had experience in civil 
life in this line. Stretcher-bearers volunteer, — 
it is not a compulsory detail. They are heroes, 
if there is such a thing as a hero in war, where 
every man is doing his bit. 

Generally there are from two to four stretcher- 
bearers to a platoon. They do not carr\^ arms 
and the only distinguishing mark is a white bras- 
sard with a red cross on it, buttoned, pinned, or 
sewed above the left elbow on their tunic or 
blouse. They carry a canvas first-aid pouch and 
medicine bag slung around their shoulders by 
means of a leather or canvas strap. Two men are 
detailed to a stretcher. 

Wlien a man is hit " out in front," the stretcher- 
bearers go out after him, and they are liable to 



292 



First Call 



be killed or wounded in doing so. They reach 
him, open up their stretcher, place it beside him, 
and gently lift him upon it; sometimes they 
apply a tourniquet, or bandage his wounds under 
a hot fire, risking their lives in so doing. 

Oftentimes they go out without a stretcher, and 
the wounded men are carried in on their shoul- 
ders or backs. In a charge the stretcher-bearers 
go "over the top" in the rear of the advancing 
waves and bring in the wounded as they fall. 

When a man is hit in the fire trench the call for 
stretcher-bearers is sounded. In a few minutes 
they arrive. If the wounds are serious one of 
the stretcher-bearers usually places a couple of 
morphine tablets under the tongue of the wounded 
man. After administering first aid, they place 
him on the stretcher and carry him to the entrance 
of the nearest communication trench leading to 
the rear, or to an advanced first-aid dugout or 
dressing station. It is hard work carrying 
wounded on a stretcher through a communication 
trench, — there are so many sharp turns and the 
communication trench is only about three feet 
wide. Oftentimes to navigate a sharp turn the 
stretcher must be lifted out of the trench and 
carried "over the top" and then lowered into the 



The Wounded 293 

trench again. In the daytime this is dangerous 
work because there is always some German 
sniper waiting for just such an opportunity to 
display his shooting skill and to demonstrate that 
he was brought up on the bottle of German Kul- 
tur. In most places along the line these turns can 
be passed without lifting a stretcher out of the 
trench. This important factor was considered 
when the trench was dug, but in hurried entrench- 
ments such is not the case, and the wounded and 
stretcher-bearers suffer accordingly. 

When the advanced dressing station is reached, 
the wounded soldier is turned over to a surgeon 
and his assistants of the medical corps. The 
stretcher-bearers then return to their post in the 
trench to wait for another casualty. 

The surgeon dresses the soldier's w^ounds, 
makes a record of his rank, name, nimiber, com- 
pany, regiment, date of wounding, and nature of 
woimds. *'G. S. W." on the record means gun 
shot wound; "S. W," shell wound; "I. W.," 
incised wound, bayonet, etc.; *'S. I.," one self- 
inflicted. 

Then comes another stretcher ride, if the sta- 
tion or dugout is in a front line or commimica- 
tion trench, until the dressing station behind the 



294 First Call 

trenches is reached. This dressing station is 
usually a large deep elephant dugout, made in the 
rear of a house in the village. 

Here the "casualties, " after again being dressed, 
are put into motor ambulances and transported 
to the field hospital which is generally located 
five miles or farther behind the lines. At this 
place the wounds are cleaned and dressed, or 
perhaps the man is operated on, or a limb is ampu- 
tated. Then another ambulance ride to an am- 
bulance train. Here the wounded meet their first 
Red Cross nurses. A four or five hours' ride on 
this train follows, then more ambulances until 
the base hospital or casualty clearing station is 
reached. 

If the man is marked ''Base Hospital," indicat- 
ing that his wounds are too serious to transport 
him farther, he remains there until he is strong 
enough to travel. If marked "England" the 
casualty has a night's rest in a hospital bed. 
Next day, ambulances again, until a Channel 
port is reached. Then he is carried aboard a 
hospital ship and crosses the Channel. 

Arriving at Southampton, there is another short 
ambulance ride to the railroad station, at which 
point he is put into an English ambulance train. 



The Wounded 



295 




c 

:s 

'01 
o 






:i 



old 

3 

o 



1 

Ck 



? 







fe'-^ 






296 First Call 

The ''casualty" takes a four or five hours' ride on 
the train — more ambulances again until he reaches 
at last the permanent hospital. 

He stays there until he is convalescent and is 
then sent to a convalescent home for a period of 
six weeks. Upon being discharged as cured, he is 
granted from seven to ten days' leave, with orders 
to report at the termination of his leave to the 
training station of his unit. At the training sta- 
tion he is put into a convalescent class and is 
gradually promoted from one class to another, 
until he has fully recovered his strength. Then he 
undergoes a physical examination and is marked 
"Fit" or "Duty," and he performs the duties of 
an able soldier until his name is picked for a draft 
going to France, and it is not long before he is 
again in the fire trench. The average length of 
time required to return a wounded man to France 
is from five to seven months. 

Sammy, after you have actually 

, o^' been in the thick of it, especially if 

to bammy ' ^ -^ 

you are wounded or sick, you are going 
to meet a certain class of people that perhaps you 
have never met before. I am speaking of the 
doctors. Red Cross nurses, women volunteers, 
chaplains, and Y. M. C. A. workers. 



The Wounded 297 

You will love them, you can't help doing so. 
They are noble men and women, sacrificing all for 
your comfort and welfare. 

And people wonder how soldiers can be so cheer- 
ful. The great mystery is how any soldier can 
be grouchy after coming in touch with these heroes 
•and heroines. 

I will leave it to you to decide. 

Right here, I can't resist answering ^j^^ ^.^^ 
a question, often asked me in my lee- who Wants 
tures in the various parts of the coun- j<f^^Q 
try: ''Do you think I am fitted to be 
a Red Cross Nurse?" 

The most romantic appeal to any girl is that 
of the Red Cross. The picture is touching — the 
white uniform bending over a bleeding soldier 
on the field of battle, impervious to fear and 
danger, soothing his brow as he whispers his last 
farewell message. But that is not the whole 
picture. 

The right to wear this uniform is the greatest 
honor to which a woman can aspire in this war. 
It is as glorious as the uniform of the soldier. He 
sacrifices himself for his country, she sacrifices 
herself for the soldier. 

But this means work and study, not merely the 



298 First Call 

signing of an application and attending a meeting 

or two and then donning the uniform. 

Your work at first is not binding up 
Hard Work . . . . 

bleeding soldiers, nor smoothing their 

brows, nor writing their letters home, nor will it 

surely terminate in a romantic marriage. It is 

scrubbing and making beds, washing dirty linen 

and greasy dishes, cleaning up wards, and other 

very dirty work. Later on you will be graduated 

to the position where you can take temperatures 

and assist the registered nurse and doctor in 

dressing wounds. You are allowed to hand them 

bandages, cotton, swabs, and to clean up the mess 

when the work is finished. Then you gradually 

advance until you are allowed to remove the 

bandages of superficial wounds. Another step, 

and you are allowed to bandage the wounds, and 

so on through the routine until you are entrusted 

with a ward of your own. 

Smile, Smile, During all this hard work and study 

Smile you must never complain. There must 

always be a smile on your face, and remember 

your pay is not large. 

If your wishbone is where your backbone 

should be, and you have not the patriotism, the 

strength of character, and the willingness to 



The Wounded 299 

sacrifice everything in this cause, I say, "Stay 
home." But if you are a true American and 
really want to serve your country and the fight- 
ing men of your country, go into this with both 
feet. When you at last can wear the Red Cross 
uniform you will have the satisfaction of knowing 
that the soldier on the fighting front loves and 
adores you and looks up to you as his angel of 
mercy. 

Girls, this goal is worth attaining. Go after it, 
and when the war is over, come marching home 
beside Sammy, with a feeling of exultation that 
you and he have won this war and forever estab- 
lished Justice, Democracy, and Liberty for the 
future generations to come. _ 



CHAPTER XXXII 

"gone west" 

A LL along the Western Front stand little 
"^"^ wooden crosses, marking the resting-places 
of those who have "gone West." 

The fallen soldier receives every honor possible 
under the conditions. Perhaps you who have 
loved ones at the Front may like to know some- 
thing of the respect paid to the boys who fall 
"out there." 

If a soldier is killed in the front line trench, it is 

a simple matter to handle the remains. As soon 

as he is hit the call "Stretcher-bearers on the 

double" is passed down the trench. When the 

stretcher-bearers arrive (it is generally within 

five minutes) and they find that the man is dead, 

two of them carry the body on a stretcher to the 

rear, if things are quiet in the trench. The dead 

soldier is usually covered with a waterproof sheet, 

or poncho; if this is not obtainable the face is 

300 



••GoneWesf 301 

covered with an empty sandbag. As the stretcher- 
bearers wind their way down the communication 
trenches, they run the gauntlet of many inquiries, 
such as: ''Who is it, mate?" "Gone West?" 
' ' What battaHon ? * ' The stretcher-bearers always 
answer these questions. Their replies generally 
are short and to the point: "Jones, A Company"; 
"Rifle; through the napper"; "7th Middlesex." 

In the wake of the stretcher can be heard the 
following expressions of sympathy: "Poor old 
Jonesy, gone West"; "Too bad, three kids too"; 
"Why it was only yesterday he stopped and I 
gave him a bit of tobacco for his pipe," etc. 

After emerging from the communication trench, 
the stretcher is placed on a small two-wheeled 
truck, which is used for the dead or wounded. 
The wheels are about three feet high with pneu- 
matic tires and wire spokes, resembhng those of 
a bicycle. The truck, or "perambulator" as it is 
nicknamed, is equipped with springs so that the 
wounded man can be wheeled over a very rough 
road with little jolting. 

When the body arrives at an advanced first-aid 
post or dressing station, a thorough examination, 
or "death test," is given by the medical officer. 
The identification disc is removed and a careful 



302 First Call 

record fOr the casualty lists is made. The body 
is then placed in the "morgue," which is generally 
a little shed in rear of the dressing station. 

The commanding officer of the dead man's unit 
is officially notified. Upon receiving this notifica- 
tion, the officer sends the man's platoon officer 
and a "non-com" to the dressing station to iden- 
tify the man, so as to check the official record 
of his death. 

In the presence of an officer, where it is possible, 
a non-commissioned officer of the medical corps 
searches the clothing of the deceased and all of the 
effects found are placed in a little packet. This 
packet is sealed and the man's rank, name, num- 
ber, company, battalion, brigade, division, and 
religion are written on it, also his home address, 
and the address of his next of kin. The last 
information is taken from the man's paybook, 
which never leaves his person. 

In the company all of the soldier's 
His Effects , , , . 

personal belongings are carefully col- 
lected by a "non-com," in the presence of an 
officer, and are put into an empty sand bag. On 
this bag a tag is fastened with the same informa- 
tion as that on the packet in the dressing sta- 
tion. The bag is then sent to the dressing station. 



••GoneWesf 303 

where the sergeant major takes charge of it, and, 
with the packet, it is turned over to the depart- 
ment which takes care of dead men's effects. 
These effects sometimes reach the relatives of the 
deceased months later. Behind the lines are huge 
sheds for storing these belongings, and perhaps 
after the war a large percentage will reach their 
destinations. 

The remains are often carefully sewed in a 
blanket. The cost of this blanket is noted in the 
paybook of the deceased and is deducted from 
the pay due him. 

Behind the lines (anywhere from three hundred 
to nine hundred yards from the fire trench) is the 
cemetery. Men in charge of the chaplains are 
detailed to lay out, dig, and care for the graves. 
The cemetery is also under the direct supervision 
of a high ranking medical officer, generally the 
sanitary officer. It is laid out in streets and each 
street is spaced into graves or plots. Starting 
on the left, each space allotted for a grave has 
a little numbered stake driven into the ground. 
At the head of each street is a wooden sign post 
with the name of the battalion and brigade writ- 
ten on it. 

Troops, especially if they are "rookies," are 



304 



First Call 



badly shocked when they take over a new section 
of the line, and see a sign in the cemetery with 
their own regiment and brigade inscribed on it. 
From this sign their eyes travel down a long row of 
little stakes numbered i, 2, 3, 4, 5, etc. Instinc- 
tively they wonder who is going to occupy No. i 
grave. Perhaps next day they will know. 

A chaplain of the creed of the de- 
Burial 

ceased is officially notified of the death, 

even though he is standing beside the corpse at 
the time. He then takes charge of the funeral. 
If they can be spared, the men of the section to 
which the man belonged, attend the funeral. 
Four chums of the deceased generally act as pall- 
bearers. Across the stretcher are laid two heavy 
ropes with which to lower the remains into the 
grave. The corpse is then placed on the stretcher 
and covered with a flag. The chaplain leads, then 
come the pall-bearers with their flag-covered 
burden, followed by the officers and men of the 
section or platoon — and so the procession starts 
on its way to the cemetery. 

As it passes through the streets of the shell de- 
stroyed village, troops come to "Attention" and 
salute. It has been a much discussed question 
as to whether the troops are saluting the flag on 



••Gone West" 305 

the stretcher or the remains beneath the colors. 
Out of respect for the dead, we will say that the 
remains are being saluted. The flag receives many 
salutes but the form on the stretcher, if it be that 
of an enlisted man, is receiving his first and only 
salute in France. He has not done much to merit 
a salute — he has only given his life, his all, for 
his country. 

When the procession arrives at the cemetery, 
it halts before an open grave. Standing near 
this opening in the ground, are two soldiers in 
their shirt sleeves, the sweat pouring from them, 
with shovels in their hands. 

The chaplain reads the burial service. The 
flag is removed from the body, — not buried with 
it, as many people think. Perhaps that flag has 
covered hundreds of bodies. It is spotted all 
over with little telltale blood marks. 

The grave diggers, assisted by some of the men, 
lower the body into the grave by means of the 
ropes and the earth is thrown in. The chaplain 
remains until the grave is filled in, and the little 
mound of earth is patted and shaped by the grave 
diggers. He has brought with him a hermetically 
sealed bottle with a little slip of paper inside, 
upon which is written in ink or indelible pencil, 



3o6 First Call 

the rank, name, number, company, battalion, 
division, and religion of the deceased and the date 
of his death. He carefully places this bottle in the 
soft earth at the head of the mound. Next day, a 
little cross made of pinewood, about thirty inches 
high, is placed at the head of the grave. Inscribed 
on it in black paint is the following information: 
''Private A. B. Jones, No. 16794, Company A, 
yth Middlesex, 167th Brigade. Killed in action, 
November 30, 191 7. R. I. P. [Reguiescat in 
Pace — Rest in Peace]." 

Perhaps in time the elements will destroy this 
cross or efface the inscription, but the bottle with 
its slip of paper remains. 

Shortly after the funeral, in their few spare 
moments, the men of the section or platoon to 
which the deceased belonged, decorate the grave 
with white stones. They sod it over and then 
their Mate "rests in peace," undisturbed by the 
bursting shells or the ''cracking" of "strays" 
above him. 

But this careful attention cannot be given the 
individual soldier who falls during or immediately 
after an attack, — there are too many to be buried 
and for sanitary reasons the bodies must be dis- 
posed of as quickly as possible. 



••Gone West" 307 

At such a time the dead are buried by men 
detailed for that purpose. They are called 
"Burying Parties" or ''Digging Parties." This 
work is done at night, for the Germans are no 
respecters of funerals, — in fact, if they think a 
burial party is at work, they seem to take delight 
in shelling or directing their machine-gun fire into 
No Man's Land. Many a soldier has been killed 
or wounded from German fire while standing be- 
side the open grave of a comrade. 

The burying party goes out in front in charge 
of a couple of officers. It is composed of company 
men and others detailed from the medical corps. 
The party numbers from twenty to one hundred 
and fifty, according to the amount of work on 
hand. 

When a body is found, the identification disc is 
removed and carefully preserved for record in the 
casualty lists and notification of next of kin. 
Friend and foe are treated alike. One squad 
collects the bodies while another digs a deep grave 
or trench. The bodies are placed in this hole; 
at times, thirty to forty bodies have been buried 
in the same grave. Quicklime is plentifully 
sprinkled over the bodies and then the hole is 
filled in. 



3o8 First Call 

Later on, if possible, a large wooden tablet is 
erected, giving the ranks, names, numbers, etc., of 
the men buried at that spot. 

Except in the case of a very high-ranking officer 
or commanding general, bodies are never sent 
home. 



CHAPTER XXXIII 

*' THANK god! the STRETCHER-BEARERS " 

WHAT is the Red Cross? What does it do? 
Why should / contribute my hard-earned 
money? Thousands of people throughout the 
United States are asking themselves these ques- 
tions and are receiving no answers, and their 
much-needed dollar goes for something else and 
the Red Cross suffers, is suffering. 

To many, who do not take the time or trouble 
to investigate, the Red Cross means a little sign 
in a shop window, a white placard, with a red 
cross in the center, the words "Join the Red Cross," 
written at the top, while at the bottom appears 
the reminder ''Do it now." They read this last 
admonition and forget it or plan to do it some 
other time. 

To answer these questions we will ask the one 
who knows, — the fighting man, the man in the 
trenches, the man who is right now, this very 

309 



310 First Call 

night, lying bleeding in the darkness of No Man's 
Land and straining his eyes into the blackness, 
eagerly looking for the stretcher-bearers and that 
little Red Cross. 

The deck of incidents is well shuffled; at ran- 
dom we will pick a card. Ttim it face up, — it is 
red, blood red, the color of the Red Cross. We 
read its story: it is also blood red. 

Of course, the story I relate is not true. It 
never happened. Ridiculous ! Absurd ! But let 
me impress upon you that it has happened thou- 
sands of times on the Western Front. It is happen- 
ing right now and will repeat itself many times 
before this war is over. 

This soldier has entered the Great Fight. He is 
a scoffer. To him there is no God, no Hereafter; 
when he is killed he is dead, it's all over, he doesn't 
give a damn. Anyway, he's not going to be killed, 
he's coming through all right. He's been out since 
Mons, gone through attack after attack; never 
got a scratch, while nearly all of his mates, espe- 
cially the "churchy" ones, have "gone West." 
They are lying "somewhere in France," "pushing 
up the daisies," while he is here, alive, eating bully 
beef, smoking a fag, and "sweating on leave," 
— he starts for Blighty next Saturday, — 'cause 



••Thank God! The Stretcher-Bearers'* 311 

there it is in orders, written on the Brigade type- 
writer. If there is a God, He's a pretty poor mate 
because He never saved the ones who beheved in 
Him. They are in the ground, the worms are 
eating them. Let them pray what wants to. But 
he, — not likely! 

"What's that? Bombing raid to-night, — all 
bombers report at once? Why in hell wasn't I 
a machine gunner? Rotten luck, that going on a 
trench raid when your name's posted in orders 
for leave. Offer up a prayer for my safe return? 
Just like Jones, always buttin' in with his soft soap 
religion stuff. Well, to my thinking, a 'tin hat' 
is more protection on a trench raid than a whim- 
pering prayer. 

"So long, boys, we'll be over the top in ten 
minutes." 

(The trench raiders are now crawling back across 
No Man's Land to their own trenches.) 

"Well, we busted up Fritz's tea party all right. 
Hot work while it lasted. I know my bomb got 
three out of that last bunch in the corner of the 
firebay — and a good job too ! 

"Ha! a star shell; there goes another, and an- 
other. Now for the music! {Crack!) Damned 
close, that one, — dirt got me in the face. {Pup- 



312 First Call 

pup-pup!) Fm thinking we'll be lucky to get 
back to our trench safely through this mess. 

"I say, Pete, are you there? Pete — Pete! why 
in hell don't you answer? Cricky! it's black; 
wonder where Pete got to? 

" 'Arry is that you? Down fiat, don*t move, 
— here comes a star shell. Keep your napper 
down till she burns out, you bloody fool. {Crack! 
Crack!) 

"Oh! God!'' 

"Are you 'it, 'Arry? Answer, 'Arry, where'd it 
get you? {Crack!) 'Arry, answer me, mate. 
Down. Here comes a star shell; it's one of ours, 
— no it ain't either. I'm lost, I've been crawling 
toward the German lines. I'm a shaking all over 
— my nerve's going. I'm sick, I'm going to faint." 

{Crack! Pup-pup — Crack!) 

''They've spotted me. I'll make a run for it. 
More star shells, four of 'em, — to hell with 'em, 
I'll chance it running. {Crack!) 

"Oh — oh — oh. My leg's smashed — I'm bleed- 
ing, — -damn 'em; they won't get me, not while I 
can crawl. {Crack! Crack!) Shoot, damn you, 
shoot ! 

"A shell hole at last! None too soon either. 
Oh, my leg! Knee's shattered I bet, — means a 



••Thank God! The Stretcher-Bearers'* 313 

crutch in Blighty for me. A few seconds more 
an' I'll be safe from Fritz's strafeing. 

" What ! more star shells ! Damn them! Shrap- 
nel, too, — I'm in a pretty mess out here, I am. 
A few inches more an' I'll be in the shell hole an' 
out of danger. What's dragging on my leg? 
Another star shell, — parachute too; if they see 
me, my bacon's cooked. Curse that leg, I can't 
move it. 

{Crack! Crack!) 

"Oh! God, my shoulder. Oh — oh — oh, I *m dy- 
ing — I'm wet with blood — {Crack!) Oh — oh — 
oh— it 's— oh— oh ' ' 

(Becomes unconscious. Later, he regains con- 
sciousness.) 

"Where am I? — it's dark — my leg, I'm wet, — 
it's sticky — it's blood, I'm hit — {Crack!) Snipe, 
you blighters. It's your turn — I've had mine. 
I'm bleeding to death — Oh, Mother! Mother! 
Mother! {Crack!) I'm dying out here alone. 
I'm going crazy — I won't, / worit die, — oh my 
ribs are crushed " 

And then, his first prayer: 

' ' Stretcher-bearers — stretcher-bearers ! Where 
are you? Come and get me — Oh! God — God — 
(if there is one) — send me stretcher-bearers. 



314 First Call 

{Pup-pup-pup) . Oh ! God — stretcher-bearers ! Oh ! 
God— God— God ' ' 

(In the trench, crouched on the fire step, covered 
with mud, are two stretcher-bearers.) 

(Crack! Pup-pup-pup! Crack!) 

"Blime me, Fritz is sure kicking up a row out 
in front. Hug her close, here comes a shrapnel. 
{Whiz-z-z! Bang!) Our raiding party is sure click- 
ing it; they ought to have been back long before 
this. There'll be a lot go West this night — 
keep your head down, you can't see nothing that 
way. {Crack! Zing!) Gimme your handker- 
chief, me eyes are full o' dirt. Did you hear that? 
What is it? Sounds like someone moaning. Hell, 
it's one o' our boys — he's out in front, he's hit. 
Ask the sentry if he heard it." 

(Very faintly from out of the blackness in front.) 
*' Stretcher-bearers — Oh— God— God ! " 

{Crack!) 

"Come on, Bill, it's over the top an' out in 
front to bring in the poor beggar." 

{Crack!) 

" 'Sure death' you say; what in hell are you 
wearin' that red cross on your arm for, if you're 
afraid of going West ?" 

{Pup-pup-pup.) 



••Thank God! The Stretcher-Bearers** 315 

"I ain't afraid, never quit yet, did I? Pass up 
the stretcher and don't waste so much time with 
that chin music, p'ra'ps the poor cuss is dyin'." 

'"Ere you are, get a 'old on the end, and run 
low. Damn that barbed wire!" 

{Crack!) 

"Down on the ground — 'ere comes a star shell. 
Now up an' a run for it." 

"Hear him? That moanin' sound? To the 
right a little more. {Crack!) Right I say. 
Steady — a star shell 

"There he is Bill — don't move in this light — that 
black heap on the edge of the shell hole on your 
right. When she bums out we'll run for him — 
Now! work quick!" 

" God, he's dead " 

But that black heap at the edge of the shell- 
hole speaks! 

"Thank God! the stretcher-bearers." 

"No he ain't, he's alive, Bill, — gently, his leg's 
broke — easy now — on he goes — Down fiat, here's 
another light." 

{Crack! Crack-crack-crack.) 

"Down low; they see us — {Zing!) — ^when it's 
dark, back we go and trust to luck. Get ready 
— now! Gee, this bloke's heavy." 



3i6 First Call 

"We're near our wire! Watch out for the 
sentry " 

From the darkness comes the challenge: — 

' ' Halt ! Who comes there ? " 

"Stretcher-bearers — you blinking idiot — do you 
want to let every Fritz in France know it?" 

{Crack!) 

"What'd I tell you? See what youVe done, 
they hear us. 

"Mind that stretcher, Bill, youVe dumping 
the bloke into the wire." 

"Just a minute till I get this stretcher strap 
around my neck, — that last one got me in the 
arm." 

"Hit hard?" 

"Naw, but I reckon it's good for Blighty." 

"Gee, you always was lucky. Bill. Here's the 
dressing station, — careful with him down those 
steps — they're slippery. You do the talkin', Bill, 
while they bind up your wing." 

"Yes, sir, found him in a shell hole out 
in front — must be one of the raiding party. 
My arm bleedin'? So it is; that's funny, 
I didn't know it; must a' been a stray that 
got me. 

"How did we get him? Just by luck, sir, we 



••Thank God! The Stretcher-Bearers" 317 

was a roamin' around out in front and sort o' 
stumbled over him. 

"What were we doing out in front? Well you 
see, sir, — you see — we just went out after him — 
nothin' to it at all, — sir. Think he'll live, sir? 

"That's good, sir. I'm glad to hear that, 'cause 
he must 'a had a tough time out there all alone 
an' hit in three places. A little easy with that 
splint, Sergeant, it hurts some. Thanks. 

"So long, Jim, old chum, I'll write to you from 
Blighty." 

"Good-bye, Bill, you lucky bloke!" 

Just Bill and Jim, a little red cross on their 
arms, the same kind of a cross you see in the shop 
windows; they get a shilling a day — twenty-four 
cents — a cent an hour for risking their lives under 
fire. 

They are willing to risk their lives and go out 
in No Man's Land to save a wounded and bleed- 
ing soldier, while right here in the United States 
there are thousands of people who will not risk 
a dollar to help Bill and Jim and the Red Cross. 

If, when contributing, you will realize that each 
bandage you buy binds up a poor wounded and 
bleeding soldier, I know you will dig deeper. 



3i8 First Call 

If you are a true American you will join the Red 
Cross, support it, and work for it. If your sym- 
pathies are elsewhere, the American Red Cross 
does not want your help. 

Remember, Americans and our Allies, that the 
Red Cross needs and appreciates the widow's 
mite as well as the millionaire's might. 



IN CLOSING 

"THIRST CALL" may seem a Hungarian gou- 
-■■ lash of information but the reader would 
perhaps be tolerant if he would realize that most 
of it was written while trekking back and forth 
over this country, lecturing after my return from 
France. 

The information given is not unusual. I am 
able to give it simply because I happened to be 
one of the first Americans on the ground. Any 
ordinary Yankee boy who keeps each of his senses 
sharp could do the same. 

But the book comes sincerely from my heart 
and I will be happy if it helps one recruit over 
the rough road to Berlin. 

One thing more before I drop this fountain-pen. 

A friend the other day made a remark that was 
very helpful to me and may be helpful to you. 
He is a shade under forty, healthy and vigorous, 
but he has a large family and many responsibilities 
and cannot go — and oh ! how he wants to ! 

319 



320 First Call 

As he watched a few of the men in the office say- 
ing "Good-bye," the day before they were to 
leave for the training camps, he said: "No matter 
what we men who are left behind may do — those 
fellows will have it all over us." 

Wasn't he right? Think it over as you close 
your desk and hang up the old office coat to 
don the khaki. Men may become rich or famous 
in other walks of life — but no matter what their 
achievements, they can be no greater than yours. 
You will have it "all over them." To have 
taken part in this great war, on the side of Right, 
to have been one of the struggling soldiers who 
have helped to bring back to the earth Freedom 
and all that makes life precious, is well worth 
while. The sacrifice may be great, but it will not 
have been in vain. 





CAP DE.VICEi - US NAVY 



CAP OCVi CL -U.S. ARMY 





CAP DEVICE 
MARINE CORPS 



CAP DEX/ICE 
CHIEF PETTY OFFICERS 



CAP DEVICES U. S. ARMY AND U. S. NAVY 



321 




ARMY OFFICERS SHOULDER STRAPS 




BATTALION AND 



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SEFGCAjirr'M'AJOJi SEROCANT MAJOR SERCCANT MAJOR COLOR SERGEANT 



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INSIGNIA U. S. ARMY 



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JUDOE ADVOCATE GEN. DEPT. 
CAP AND COLLAR DEVICES U. S. ARMY 





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COLLAR DEVICES, U. S. NAVY 



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INSIGNIA AND DEVICES, BRITISH ARMY 

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SHOULDER STRAPS 



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337 



APPENDICES 



339 



SAMMY'S "PINCH" DICTIONARY 



A few French and German phrases that will 
help Sammy in a pinch. 



ENGLISH 



FRENCH 



Which is the way to headquar- 
ters? 
Good-bye. 
How many miles? 
How far is it to the next village? 
Please give me a drink of water. 



Will you sell me some milk? 
Will you sell me some eggs? 

Will you sell me some bread? 

How much is it? 

Is this road safe? 

What is the name of this place? 

I am a sentry. 

We are a patrol. 

I want to wash. 

All is well. 

Please post this for me. 



Ou est le quartier general? 

Au revoir. 

Combien de kilometres? 
Combien y a-t-il d'ici a la ville? 
Donnez-moi a boire, s. v. p. 
("s, V. p." means: s'il vous 

plait, or in English: Please.) 
Voulez-vous me vendre du lait? 
Voulez-vous me vendre des 

ceufs? 
Voulez-vous me vendre du 

pain? 
Combien est-ce que je vous 

dois? 
Cette route est-elle en bon etat? 
Quel est le nom de cet endroit ? 
On m'a fait sentinelle. 
Nous allons en patrouille. 
II faut que je me lave. 
C'est bien. 
Remettez le h. la poste. 



341 



342 



First Call 



Please give me pencil and 

paper. 
Please give me an envelope. 

Will you sell or give me some 
straw to sleep on? 

Thanks for your hospitality. 

Have you an English or Ameri- 
can paper? 

I want some gasoline (or petrol). 
I want some candles. 
I want some soap. 
What town is this? 
What time is it? 

Which is the way to ? 

1 am in the American infantry. 

I am in the American cavalry. 

I am in the American artillery. 
I am in the American engineer 

corps. 
What is the latest news from 

the front? 
We are good friends. 
I am glad to meet you. 
Long live France! 
Long live America! 
Long live Belgium! 
Long live England! 
Long live Russia! 
Death to Germany! 
Good-morning. 

Good-evening. 



Donnez-moi un crayon et du 

papier, s. v. p. 
Donnez-moi une enveloppe, 

s. V. p. 
Voulez-vous me vendre ou me 

donner du f oin ou de la paille 

povu" faire une Htiere. 
Je vous remercie pour votre 

hospitalite. 
Est-ce que vous vendez des 

journeaux anglais ou am^ri- 

cains? 
II me faut du petrole. 
II me faut des bougies. 
II me faut du savon. 
Quel est le nom de cette ville? 
Quelle heure est-il? 

Quel est le chemin a ? 

Je suis Am6ricain de I'lnfan- 

terie. 
Je suis Am^ricain de la Caval- 

lerie. 
Je suis Americain de 1' Artillerie. 
Je suis Americain du Corps de 

G6nie. 
Quoi de neuf du front? 

Nous sommes des bons amis. 

Je suis charme de vous voir. 

Vive la France. 

Vive I'Amerique. 

Vive la Belgique. 

Vive I'Angleterre. 

Vive la Russie. 

A bas I'Allemagne. 

Bonjour, Monsieur, Madame, 

or Mademoiselle. 
Bonsoir, Monsieur, Madame, 

or Mademoiselle. 



Sammy's ** Pinch ** Dictionary 343 



Good-night. 
Thank you. 

Yes, thank you. 

No, thank you. 

Look out, a shell! 

Pardon me. 

Which is the way to the rail- 
road station? 
Which is the way to our billets? 

Is there anyone here who 

speaks English? 
Do you understand? 
I understand. 
I do not understand. 
Please give me a cigarette. 

Please give me some tobacco. 

Please give me a match. 

Keep quiet! 

Halt! 

Surrender! 

Hands up! 

Drop your rifles. 

Lie down. 

Stand up. 

No talking. 

Follow me. 

Go straight ahead, I will follow. 

Follow the trench. 

Run. 

Faster. 

Slower. 

Pay attention 



Bonne nuit. 

Merci; merci bien, Monsieiu", 

Madame, or Mademoiselle. 
Oui, Monsieur, je vous re- 

mercie. 
Non, Monsieur, je vous re- 

mercie. 
Prenez garde, or Faites atten- 
tion, un obus. 
Je demande pardon, or Oh! 

Pardon. 
O^ est le chemin pour aller a 

la gare? 
Ou est le chemin pour aller a 

nos logements? 
N'y a-t-il personne qui parle 

Anglais? 
Comprenez- vous ? 
Je comprends. 
Je ne comprends pas. 
Donnez-moi ime cigarette, 

s. v. p. 
Donnez-moi du tabac, s. v. p. 
Donnez-moi du feu, s. v. p. 
Silence! 
Halte! 

Rendez-vous! 
Mains hautes! 
A bas vos armes. 
Couchez-vous. 
Levez-vous. 
Taisez-vous. 
Suivez-moi. 

Allez tout droit, je suivrai. 
Suivez cette tranch^e. 
Allez. 
Plus vite. 
Lentement. 
Attention. 



344 



First Call 



Forward march. 

Walk. 

Alarch single file. 

Ivlarch by twos. 

WTio is your officer? 

Who is your sergeant? 

Who is your corporal? 

What is your name? 

Give me your identification 
disc. 

If you try to run away, I will 
shoot you. 

Bring that machine gim with 
you. 

Are any of j^ou wounded? 

Can you walk? 

Carry that wounded man. 

Are you hiingry? 

Are you thirsty? 

Throw away your bombs. 

To what regiment do you be- 
long? 

I am wounded. 

It is serious. 

It is slight. 

Where is the doctor? 

Bandages. 

Stop the bleeding. 

The ambulance. 

The stretcher. 

I am in great pain. 

I am ill. 

I am hit in the lungs. 

I am hit in the stomach. 

I am hit in the head. 

I am hit in the arm. 

I am hit in the leg. 

I am hit in the foot. 

I am hit in the knee. 



Marchez. 

Au pas. 

Ivlarchez par file. 

Marchez a deux. 

Qui est votre officier? 

Qui est votre sergent? 

Qui est votre caporal? 

Quel est votre nom? 

Passez-moi votre plaque d'iden- 

tite. 
Ne bougez pas ou je tire. 

Portez cette mitrailleuse. 

Y a-t-il des blesses? 
Pouvez-vous marcher? 
Relevez cet homme bless^. 
Avez-vous faim? 
Avez-vous soif ? 
Laissez tomber vos bombes. 
Quel est votre regiment? 

Je suis blesse. 

II est serieux. 

Une blessure l^g^re. 

Ou est le m^decin? 

Bandages. 

Arr^ter le sang. 

L'ambulance. 

Le brancard. 

Je souffre beaucoup. 

Je suis malade. 

Je suis bless^ au poumon. 

Je suis bless^ a I'estomac. 

Je suis bless^ a la t^te. 

Je suis bless^ au bras. 

Je suis bless6 au pied. 

Je suis bless^ a la jambe« 

Je suis bless^ au genoux. 



Sammy's ** Pinch** Dictionary 345 



I am cold. 
I am too warm. 
Keep your head down- 
Keep to the right. 
More to the left. 
A rifle. 
This is a spy. 
Come! 
Keep silent. 
A Frenchman. 
An American. 
A Belgian. 
A German. 
An Austrian. 
A Russian. 
A Dutchman. 
A Scotsman. 
An Irishman. 



II fait froid. 
II fait chaud. 
Baissez la tete. 
A droite. 
A gauche. 
Un fusil. 
C'est un espion. 
Venez ! 
Taisez-vous. 
Un Frangais. 
Un Americain. 
Un Beige. 
Un Allemand. 
Un Autrichien. 
Un Russe. 
Un Hollandais. 
Un Ecossais. 
Un Irlandais. 



ENGLISH 

Who speaks English? 
Do you understand? 
I understand. 
I do not understand. 
Please give me a cigarette. 

Please give me some tobacco. 

Please give me a match. 

Halt! 
Surrender! 

Hands up! 
Drop your rifles. 

Lie down. 
Stand up. 



GERMAN 

Wer spricht Englisch? 

Verstehen Sie? 

Ich verstehe. 

Ich verstehe nicht. 

Geben Sie mir bitte eine Ziga- 

rette. 
Geben Sie mir bitte ein wenig 

Tabak. 
Geben Sie mir bitte ein Streich- 

holz. 
Halt! 
Ubergebt Euch; Ubergeben 

Sie sich! 
Hande hoch! 
Werfen Sie Ihre Gewehre 

nieder. 
Legen Sie sich nieder. 
Steh auf. 



346 



First Call 



No talking. 

Follow me. 

Go straight ahead, I will follow. 

Follow the trench. 

Run. 

Faster. 

Slower. 

Pay attention. '' 

Forward march. 

Walk. 

March in single file. 

March by twos. 

Who is your officer? 

What is your name? 

Give me your identification 

disc. 
If you attempt to run away, I 

will shoot you. 
Bring that machine-gun with 

you. 
Are any of you wounded? 
Can you walk? 
Carry that wounded man. 

Are you hungry? 
Are you thirsty? 
Throw away your bombs. 
To what regiment do you be- 
long? 
I am wounded. 
I am badly wounded. 
I am slightly wounded. 
Where is the doctor? 
Bandages. 
Please bandage me. 
The ambulance. 
The stretcher. 
I am in great pain. 
I am ilL 



Ruhe. 

Folgen Sie mir. 

Gerade aus, ich folge Ihnen. 

Gehen Sie den Graben entlang. 

Laufen Sie. 

Schneller. 

Langsamer. 

Achtung. 

Vorwarts, marsch. 

Im Schritt. 

Im Ganseschritt. 

Marsch, zwei Mann im GHed. 

Wer ist Ihr Offizier? 

Was ist Ihr Name? 

Geben Sie mir Ihre Identifi- 

kationsmarke. 
Wenn Sie versuchen sich zu 

entfernen, schiesse ich. 
Tragen Sie das Maschinen- 

gewehr. 
Wer unter Ihnen ist verwundet? 
Konnen Sie gehen? 
Tragen Sie diesen Verwunde- 

ten. 
Sind Sie hungerig? 
Sind Sie durstig? 
Werfen Sie Ihre Bomben weg. 
Von welchem Regiment sind 

Sie? 
Ich bin verwundet. 
Ich bin schwer verwundet. 
Ich bin leicht verwundet. 
Wo ist der Arzt? 
Verbande. 

Bitte verbinden Sie mich. 
Die Ambulanz. 
Die Bahre. 

Ich habe grosse Schmerzen. 
Ich bin krank. 



Sammy's ** Pinch" Dictionary 347 



I am hit in the lungs. 

I am hit in the stomach. 

I am hit in the head. 

I am hit in the arm. 

I am hit in the leg. 

I am hit in the foot. 

I am hit in the knee. 

I am cold. 

I am too warm. 

Keep your head down. 

Move to the right. 

Move to the left. 

A rifle. 

This is a spy. 

Come. 

Keep silent. 

A Frenchman. 

An American. 

A Belgian. 

A German. 

An Austrian. 

A Russian. 

A Dutchman. 

A Scotsman. 

An Irishman. 



Ein Lungenschuss. 
Ein Magenschuss. 
Ein Kopfschuss. 
Ein Armschuss. 
Ein Beinschuss. 
Ein Fusschuss. 
Ein Knieschuss. 
Ich bin kalt. 
Ich bin zu heiss. 
Bucken Sie sich. 
Rechts imi. 
Links um. 
Ein Gewehr. 
Dies ist ein Spioru 
Kommen Sie. 
Ruhe. 

Ein Franzose. 
Ein Amerikaner. 
Ein Belgier. 
Ein Deutscher. 
Ein Oesterreicher. 
Ein Russe. 
Ein Hollander. 
Ein Schotte. 
Ein Irlander. 



AMERICAN ARMY TERMS 

TN Over the Top, Tommy's Dictionary of the 
Trenches gave a list of the phrases, some official 
and some slang, which I picked up in service on 
the Western Front; it will not be necessary to 
repeat them here, but a similar list of the expres- 
sions used in our Army, gathered during my 
service in the United States Regular Army, may 
help the new recruit. 

A 

Adjutant. An officer, usually a captain, with office in head- 
quarters, who is in charge of the detail work of a regiment; 
the mouthpiece of the Colonel. Officers and men must get 
permission from the Adjutant before they can speak to the 
Colonel. He also mounts the guard and is in command of 
the non-commissioned staff. Band and Headquarters Com- 
pany. It is wise for everyone in the regiment below the 
rank of Colonel to keep on the right side of the Adjutant. 

A. G. O. Abbreviation for Adjutant-General's Office. 

Aide-de-Camp. An officer detailed to assist a General. 

" All Night In." A member of the guard who does not have to 
walk post at night. Generally the orderly to the C. O. 
(commanding officer), or a man detailed as "Prison guard," 
who guards prisoners during the day and sleeps in quarters 
at night. The trumpeter of the guard has "all night in" 
but must sleep at the guardhouse. 
348 



American Army Terms 349 

Allotment. The sum of money allotted by a soldier, from his 
month's pay, to the people at home. The Government has 
established a routine by means of which a soldier may sign 
an agreement for the amount he wishes sent and it is for- 
warded regularly each month to the beneficiary. The draft 
man must remember that even though he is serving his 
country, his support has been taken from the folks at home, 
and they also are serving their country. It is up to him 
to make an allotment to his mother, wife, or other depend- 
ents, which will financially tide them over the time he is 
in Uncle Sam's service. 

" A month and a month." Sentenced to one month's confine- 
ment, and the forfeiture of one month's pay. 

" Arrest in Quarters." A soldier awaiting trial for a misdemeanor 
which is not serious enough to confine him in the guard- 
house. He is not allowed to leave quarters except for drill, 
fatigues, etc. 

Articles of War. Rules for the government of the army. The 
army abbreviation is A. W. 

A. W. L. Absent with leave. 

A. W. O. L. Absent without leave; the above is the more ad- 
Vvisable way to visit your "sweetheart." 



Bachelors* Mess. Name generally applied to the quarters of 
unmarried officers. 

*' Bamdook." Nickname for rifle. Also used by Tommy 
Atkins. 

Battalion. A command in the army consisting of four companies 
of infantry, in the American army comprising about 1000 
men. 

Bell mare. In every pack train in the army there is a bell mare, — 
a gray mare with a bell attached to her halter. One of the 
packers lead her, while the pack train is on the march, the 
bell jingling. The mules are trained to follow this sound. 
When the train halts the pack mules generally scatter into 
the fields on the sides of the road to graze. It would be a 



350 First Call 

hard task to round up these mules, so instead, a packer leads 
the bell mare down the road. The mules immediately fall 
in behind the mare and the march is resumed. 

" Biscuit shooter." Slang term for a female servant or officer's 
cook. Old-time western expression. 

" Black draught." Jollop. 

" Black Jack." A strong physic. Generally jollop. Coffee is 
also called "Black Jack." 

Blanco. A whitening for belts. Used several years ago when 
white belts were issued. 

" Bobtailed." Dishonorably discharged or discharged without 
honor. 

" Bootleg." Nickname for coffee. 

" Bought another star." Term for being fined by court-martial. 
When a small fine is inflicted it is said that the man has 
bought another star for the flag. If a heavy fine, it is 
"bought another flag." 

Brigade. A command of the army consisting of four regiments, 
including units of each corps. 

" Bucking for Orderly." Cleaning up so that you will be the 
cleanest man at guard mounting. The cleanest man i^ 
picked by the adjutant to be orderly to the commanding 
officer for that special twenty-four hour tour of the guard. 

" Bunkie." Term given the soldier who sleeps next you in 
barracks or camp; more often used in an endearing way, — 
your friend, "pal," or chum. 

" Busted." American army slang meaning that a non-com- 
missioned officer has been reduced by order, or court-martial, 
to the grade of a private. 

Butts. The part of a rifle range from which targets are operated. 

" Buzzy cot." A field stove. Generally a grating resting on 
stones or iron stakes. Looks good to Sammy after a twenty- 
mile hike. 



" Canned Willie." Nickname for canned corned beef issued in 

the army ration. 
Canteen. Water bottle. Also army store. 



American Army Terms 351 

Canteen checks. Paper or metal money which will be honored 
for merchandise at the army canteen. A soldier, if he is 
not in debt to the Government, is allowed a certain per- 
centage of his pay in canteen checks. The usual allowance 
is 20%. The soldier signs a printed form in the orderly 
room. These forms are in denominations of one dollar, two 
dollars, three dollars, and five dollars. The form is then 
signed by the company commander. It is presented at the 
canteen by the soldier and canteen checks of the amount on 
the form are issued to him. Gambling with canteen checks 
keeps many a soldier broke. 

Cantonment. A large site upon which temporary buildings are 
erected for the quartering and training of troops. Many 
have been recently constructed for our National Army. 

Challenge. A verbal warning from a sentry to a person or 
persons nearing his post. This warning takes the form of the 
question, "Halt! Who's there?" As a rule a sentry does 
not challenge until 1 1 p.m. or at nightfall. 

" Challenging an orderly." At guard mounting the Adjutant 
picks out the cleanest man for orderly to the commanding 
officer. If you think you are cleaner and smarter you tell 
the Adjutant that you challenge him. When the new guard 
relieves the old, the men strip, piece for piece, and are 
closely inspected, the cleanest winning out. Sometimes 
there is no choice and a contest in the manual of arms 
and guard duty follows. The winner is orderly. 

** Charge of Mess." A non-commissioned officer detailed by the 
company commander to take charge of the accounts and 
feeding of a company. Generally the Quartermaster- 
Sergeant. 

" Charge of Quarters." A non-commissioned officer who is 
detailed to look after the affairs of the company barracks. 
His tour of duty lasts twenty-four hours. He attends no 
drills, but he must answer sick call, see that the quarters are 
clean for morning inspection, get the men out in time for 
drills, notify men of any special details, sometimes mount 
the guard, confine men, take check, etc. 

" Chasing prisoners." Guarding prisoners while at labor, — 
soft for those who like to see other people work. 



352 First Call 

Check. 1 1 P.M. inspection to see that all men not on pass or 

duty are in their bunks or cots. 
Check pass. A pass given to a man which allows him to be 

absent from the ii p.m. inspection of his outfit, but which 

does not excuse him from reveille. 
Chino khaki. Khaki made in China. The finest grade ob- 
tainable. 
C. O. General term for Commanding Officer. 
" Coffee cooler." Slang used in the army for a soldier who is 

always looking for a soft job. 
Colors. The national, State, or regimental flag carried by foot 

troops. 
" Come and get it." Sammy never gets in the guardhouse for 

disobeying this call (used by the cook to announce that the 

meal is ready to be served). 
Commissioned oflScer. An officer in the service of the United 

States whose commission is signed by the President, or 

Governor of a State; all grades from second lieutenant 

up. 
" Cow." Slang for milk. 
" Crazy with the heat." A common saying in the tropics and 

among troops who have served there. Generally used in an 

argimient when you wish to tell the other fellow that he 

does not know what he is talking about; same as "talking 

through your hat." 
Cuff leggins. Name given to the short canvas leggins, which 

replaced the old long leggin with the strap passing under the 

instep. 



"Detached Service." A man detailed on some military duty 

away from the station of his unit. 
" Dhobie itch." A very unpopular skin disease contracted in the 

Philippine Islands. 
Diamond hitch. A certain way of tying a rope on the aparejo 

when packing a mule. It is a difficult knot and needs some 

studying, just Hke the animal on which it is tied. 



American Army Terms 353 

Dining-room orderly. A man detailed to look after the dining- 
room, set the tables, cut bread, and wait on table. 

Discharged without honor. A soldier is discharged with- 
out honor for inaptitude or disability not incurred 
in the line of duty. It does not entail the loss of 
citizenship. 

" Dishonorably Discharged." A soldier who has received a dis- 
honorable discharge from the Army. A dishonorable 
discharge entails the loss of your citizenship. The paper is 
appropriately yellow in color. 

Division. A command of the army consisting of three brigades 
(twelve regiments). 

" Dog robber." Nickname for a soldier who does menial work 
for an officer. 

Dog tent. Nickname for shelter tent. 

Doherty wagon. A four-wheeled covered wagon drawn by 
from four to six mules, used for transporting soldiers on duty 
to and from railroad stations, or points near a military post. 
Also used to convey the paymaster to and from a railroad 
station. It is more often used by the commanding officer, 
the officers and their wives, as a means of transportation 
to and from the town or city near the post. 

" Do it again." Slang for reenlisting. 

" Doughboys." Nickname for the infantry. 

D. S. Army abbreviation for "Detached Service." 

" Dust-Disturbers." Nickname for infantry; see "Doughboys," 
" Gravel -Agitators, " and "Mud-Crunchers." 



E. D. Abbreviation for Extra Duty. 

" Elsie." Nickname given to a fine inflicted by a Summary 
Court-Martial. In using this expression the soldier usually 
prefixes it with the amount of the fine (a "$io Elsie"). 

" Extra Duty." A soldier detailed on special work such as the 
duties of a clerk in the Quartermaster's Department, post 
carpenter, etc. Extra pay is allowed him by the Govern- 
ment for this work. 
23 



354 First Call 

P 

Fatigue. Army term for work. 

Field Officer. An officer of a regiment with or above the rank of 

a Major. 
" First and last chance." The nearest saloon to an army reser- 
vation. Going out it is the first chance to get a drink and 

coming in, the last. 
" First Call." The first trumpet call starting the new day. It 

is sounded by the trumpeter of the guard and is intended to 

wake the garrison. (For other bugle calls see chapter on 

same— VIII.) 
First Duty Sergeant. The ranking line sergeant of a company. 
" First hitch." First enHstment. 
" For the good of the service." A caption generally used by a 

commanding officer who issues an order and cannot justify 

it by any specific General Order or regulation. It covers a 

multitude of sins. 
" French leave." Absent without permission. 
Full pack. Heavy marching order. All equipment. 

X — X — XXX — !!! (representing verbal whizzbangs from the 

old soldier when he hears this order). 
Funeral escort. Troops detailed on funeral duty in the army to 

show honor and respect to the deceased. 
Furlough. Permission to be absent from military duties granted 

to enlisted men. 



Garrison prisoner. A soldier who has received a sentence 
in the guardhouse, — from one to six months with cor- 
responding loss of pay, but not entailing dishonorable 
discharge. 

General Officer. A military term used in referring to an officer 
holding a General's rank. 

General Orders. Standard orders issued by War Department, 
governing the conduct of men on guard. 

" Ghost walks." Nickname for getting paid — pay day. 



American Army Terms 355 

"Give the wind a chance." An expression used to "shut up" 
some boaster "blowing" about what he can do or has done. 
Very effective. 

G. O. Abbreviation for General Order. 

"Gold brick." Term for a soldier who beats the sick report, or 
one who is on special or extra duty and stands no formations 
with his troop, battery, or company. "Gold bricks" are 
not popular in the army. 

" Gold lace candidate." A soldier who has passed the pre- 
liminary examination for a commission. He is entitled to a 
salute and fully realizes this. 

" Got his buzzard." Received his discharge — suggested by the 
eagle on the discharge papers. 

" Government bouquet." Name given to laundry soap issued 
by the Government. 

" Government straight." The rations issued to soldiers by the 
Government. 

" Grabbing leather." Cavalry term for a man who grabs his 
saddle to prevent himself from being thrown from an unruly 
horse. Alore enjoyable for the spectator than the principal. 

" Gravel-Agitators." Nickname for the infantry; see "Dough- 
boys," "Dust-Disturbers," and "Mud-Crunchers." 

" Grease." Slang for butter. 

" Growling." The right of an old soldier, but tabooed for 
recruits. It means grumbHng. ("Grousing" in Tommy 
Atkins' language). 

" Guardhouse lawyer." A prisoner in the guardhouse who 
imposes his advice on you, telling how to beat your coming 
court-martial. He never beats his own. 

H 

" Hand-shaker." A soldier who waits on a "non-com. " in order 
to curry favor with him. (Synonym according to the rest 
of the company: worm.) 

" Hardtack." Nickname for a very hard cracker issued in the 
army ration. 

" Hard tail." Nickname for a mule. 

" Hash marks." Slang for service or enlistment stripes worn 



356 First Call 

on the sleeves of the dress uniform of a soldier. Each stripe 
represents one enlistment in the army. The color of stripe 
designates the branch of the service in which he served. 

Heliograph. Instrument used by the Signal Corps. It is 
equipped with mirrors and shutters. Signals, in a tele- 
graphic code, are flashed by the sun's rays. 

" High ball." Army slang for a salute. 

" Hike." A route march. 

" Holy Joe." Army chaplain. Also known as "Sky Pilot. " 

" Hooks." Cavalry nickname for spurs; the cavalryman would 
sooner lose his life than these spurs. He sleeps with 'em, 
eats with 'em, and dies with 'em. 



Identification disc. A round disc about the size of a half dollar, 
made of red fiber or aluminimi, which is worn around the 
neck. On this disc is stenciled the man's name, number, 
company, regiment, and brigade. It is used for identify- 
ing the man in case he is wounded or killed. 
" In the mill." General term for "in the guardhouse. " 
" It didn't take an Act of Congress to make me a gentleman." 
A very weak expression a disgruntled soldier uses as soon as 
he is out of hearing of an officer who has just reprimanded 
him. It was derived from the phrase "an officer and a 
gentleman." It takes an Act of Congress to commission 
officers. When they receive their commissions they are 
officially gentlemen according to the army "sorehead. " 



" Jawbone." The army term for getting something on credit. 
" Juniper." "Meat" for the old soldier, — a raw recruit. 

K 

Kitchen Police. Men detailed by roster to help the cook, wash 

dishes, wait on table during meals, etc. 
" K. O." Army slang for Commanding Officer, generally used 

by officers. 
" K. P." Kitchen Police. 



American Army Terms 357 



" Lance Jack." Slang for Lance Corporal. A non-commis- 
sioned officer who wears one chevron on his arm. 

Lead. The leading team on a caisson or limber in the field 
artillery. 

" Lean-to." A shelter made out of limbs of trees, covered with 
branches, straw, grass, and ponchos. 

Leave of absence. Permission to be absent from military duties, 
granted to officers. 

" Letting out religion." A term for cursing, swearing, profanity. 
Generally used at drill, after pay day. 

" Lights Out." Does not mean Taps, as the public generally 
thinks. It means Tattoo; this call is usually sounded at 9 
P.M. and means that Hghts must be extinguished in squad 
rooms or sleeping quarters. (For other bugle calls, see 
chapter on same — VIII.) 

Line officer. A commissioned officer of the army below the 
rank of Major, — a Captain, first or second Lieutenant. 

"Loco." Another Spanish term for "crazy." Generally 
applied to horses or cattle affected by eating loco weed. 

" Long Roll, the." A long roll on the kettledrum used before the 
fife and drum corps was abolished. It was a call to arms. 

M 

Malingerer. A soldier who tries to beat the sick report to escape 
his duties as a soldier. He is despised by all and generally 
gets caught and serves a long sentence at hard labor. 

Mess kit. Mess tin, cover, knife, fork, spoon, and tin cup. 
Generally means mess tin only. 

Military convict. A soldier who has been dishonorably dis- 
charged and who is serving his sentence of confinement. On 
his prison suit is stamped a large "P." There are three 
grades of P's — a white "P" meaning first class prisoner, 
a red " P " second class, while a yellow " P " means dangerous 
character. Privileges are given to prisoners according to 
the length of their unexpired sentence and conduct class. 

Military Police. Soldiers detailed to enforce regulations, pre- 



358 First Call 

serve order, protect military stores, telephone, telegraph, and 
railway lines from damage. It is also their duty to arrest 
soldiers absent without leave, deserters, etc. 

" Milk Squadron or Battalion." The third squadron in cavalry, 
third battalion in infantry. Taken from the letters of the 
troops or companies comprising it, i. e., I. K. L. M. 

" Mill." Army nickname for the guardhouse. 

" Monkey drill." Rough riding in the cavalry. 

Mounted pass. A three to four hour pass granted to a man in 
the cavalr}', generally on a Sunday, to take his horse for 
exercise. He'd better not bring his horse in in poor condition 
or overheated, because the Stable Sergeant is laying for 
him and the pet aversion of said Sergeant is a mounted pass. 

" Mud-Crunchers." Nickname for the infantry, — see "Dough- 
boys," "Dust-Disturbers," and "Gravel-Agitators," all pet 
nicknames for the foot soldier. 

" Mule skinner." Wagoner; depends on the mule whether the 
job is soft or not. (It takes a von Bernstorff to handle a 
mule.) 

Muster. In the army a regular monthly formation of an or- 
ganization at which the men are accounted for and all 
equipment checked and inspected. 

N 
" Non-Com." Army term for Non-Commissioned officer. 

O 

Officer of the Day. An officer in the army in direct command 
of the guard, whose duty it is to see that the guard is properly 
conducted and that all orders of the commanding officer 
for guard duty are strictly enforced. His tour of duty is 
twenty-four hours. 

" Officers' papers." Cigarette papers which you buy, — not the 
ones given away with tobacco. 

Officers' Row. The line of officers' quarters in an Army Post. 

" Old Army Game." Gambling game, " Under, Over and Even." 
The banker nearly always wins. Only recruits buck this 
game. 



American Army Terms 359 

" Old Man." Nickname for the Captain of a company, also 
used when referring to the Colonel. 

" On the mat or carpet." Haledbefore the Captain to answer 
for some dereliction of duty. 

Orderly pass. A twenty-four hour pass given to the Orderly by 
the commanding officer, as soon as his tour of guard is 
finished. It generally covers the period between guard 
mounting and guard mounting. The pass is a reward or 
inducement for cleanliness when mounting guard. If the 
guard are not clean they generally "are thrown off guard," 
with a court-martial or extra fatigues staring them in the 
face. 

Orderly Room. The Captain's office. Generally occupied by 
the First Sergeant and troop or company clerk. 

" Outfit." Army term for a regiment. 

" Outlaw." A cavalry term for a horse which is wicked and 
immanageable. 



Paroled prisoner. A garrison prisoner or military convict who 
only has a month or two "to do" and who has been given his 
parole on account of good conduct. He works around the 
post, generally for the commanding officer, without the honor 
of a sentry's escort. 

Piece. Common name for rifle. This term is generally used at 
driU. 

Police (as verb). A term used in the army, meaning to clean 
up, put in order. 

" Politician." Nickname for a soldier who has a soft detail or 
job which excuses him from all calls. 

Pontoon bridge. Temporary bridge across a river or stream 
constructed by the Engineer Corps, consisting of timbers 
and planks placed across boats or pontoons. 

Post exchange. A military store under direct supervision of the 
Government established at an army post or camp for the 
sale of refreshments and articles required by soldiers. At 
these exchanges soldiers can buy articles almost at cost 
price. 



36o First Call 

Prison Guard. Men detailed for a period of ten days to guard 
prisoners in the daytime while out working. These men are 
excused from all drills, fatigues, and inspections while on this 
detail. 

" Pronto." Often used by troops who have served in Cuba, 
the Philippines, or on the Mexican Border. It is Spanish for 
"hurry," "get a move on, " "quickly," "in a short while." 
(Word often used but rarely practiced in said countries.) 

Provost Sergeant. A sergeant detailed on extra or special duty 
to look after prisoners and the general enforcing of special 
and standing regulations of military posts and camps. 

Pull-through. A stout piece of cord on one end of which is 
attached a weight; on the other is a loop through which you 
insert an oily rag. You drop the weighted end into the bore 
of the rifle at the breech; this pulls the cord through; the 
weighted end is then pulled and the oily rag drawn through 
the bore. This process effectively cleans it. 

" Pulling his belt." Confining a sentry for some breach of the 
Guard Manual. 

" Pump handle." Slang term for saluting. 

" Pvmk." Slang for bread. 

*' Pup tent." Nickname for a shelter tent. 

" Push and pull." Slang for "sighting and aiming" drill. 

Q 

Q. M. General army abbreviation for Quartermaster. 

R 

*' Racker." Hard trotting horse. 

" Rat tail." Army slang for mule. 

" Rear." Toilet, latrine. 

Regiment. A command of the army consisting of three battal- 
ions of infantry or three squadrons of cavalry. Each battaHon 
or squadron consists of four companies or troops, each com- 
pany or troop being designated by a letter namely, "A," 
"B," "C," "D," "E," "F," "G," "H," "I," "K," "L," 
"M." 

" Re-up." Slang for reenlisting. 



American Army Terms 361 

Review. A formation of the army held in honor of some high 
individual. The troops pass before him while marching. 

" Rise and shine." Means turn out of your bunks, get up. 

R. O. Abbreviation for Regimental Order. 

" Roman nose." A horse with a Roman nose, looks like a 
Shylock. 

" Rookie." A recruit. 

Route march. A practice march for troops designed to keep 
them in condition. 



" Sand rat." Nickname for a man detailed in the butts during 
target practice on the rifle range. 

S. C. M. Abbreviation for Summary Court-Martial. 

Scout. A specially trained man detailed in the army to gain 
information from the enemy without being seen by the 
enemy. 

S. D. Abbreviation for Special Duty. 

" Seconds." Nickname for an extra helping of food. Uni- 
versally used. 

" Shad belly." A horse whose belly sharply tapers toward the 
rear thereby causing the saddle and cinch to sUde back. 
This may be prevented by the use of a martingale and breast 
straps. When none are at hand take the halter shank, pass 
it between the forelegs, and tie around cinch. 

" Shave-tail." American army slang for an officer who has 
just been graduated from West Point (not used when he is in 
earshot). 

" Shoestring Corporal." A lance corporal. He wears one stripe 
on his arm. 

Sick in Quarters. What the doctor marks on the sick report 
when a man is too sick to perform his duties, but is not sick 
enough to enter the hospital. He is supposed to stay in 
quarters and only answer sick call. 

** Single-footer." A horse which strikes the ground with its 
feet one after the other. A very easy gait. Single-footers 
are generally issued to trumpeters or buglers. 

" Sinks." Toilets, latrines, rears. 



362 First Call 

" Six for five." Means borrowing five dollars and paying six for 

it on pay day. This is a common practice in the army. 

There are generally two or three Shylocks in each company. 

They have to lie low as this usurious practice is against 

regulations and the officers are hot on their trail. These men 

when discharged generally have several thousand dollars 

saved up. 
" Six-sixty." Six months in the guardhouse and a fine of $60. 
" Sixty-Second, the." The Sixty-Second Article of War, the 

blanket article which covers all points not included in the 

other articles; also nickname for hash, which is supposed to 

contain everything. 
" Skee." A common nickname for whiskey or "booze." 
" Sky pilot." Army chaplain; see "Holy Joe." 
Slacker. A parasite on the Star Spangled Banner. 
Slicker. Rubber or oilskin coat, issued to mounted troops. 
" Slum." Nickname for army stew. 
" Slum, full pack." Stew with a dough crust baked over it, like 

a beefsteak pie. 
" Smoke wagons." Nickname for the guns of the field artillery. 
S. O. Abbreviation for Special Order. 
" Sow belly." Army slang for bacon. 
" Special Duty." A soldier detailed by order, on some special 

work, such as company clerk, clerk in headquarters, etc. 

He is generally excused from all calls. 
Special orders. Orders issued by the commanding officer of a 

company or post, instructing sentries as to their conduct and 

maintenance of order on certain specified posts of the guard. 
Squadron. A command of the army consisting of four troops of 

cavalry. 
Stable Police. A man detailed to help clean the stables, and 

feed and water the stock, etc. 
StafE Officer. An officer who is doing duty on a General's staff, 

or in one of the Departments at Washington. A post very 

much coveted by officers. 
Standards. The national. State, or regimental flags carried by 

mounted organizations of the army. 
" Straight Duty." A soldier who stands all calls, formations, and 

drills of his unit. 



American Army Terms 363 

Striker. Official designation for a soldier who is an officer's 

servant. But the other soldiers call him "dog robber" 

(the reason is obvious) . 
Stripped Saddle. Term in the cavalry which means that nothing 

will be carried on the saddle for drill, except possibly the 

sword and rifle scabbard. 
Summary Court. An officer specially designated or detailed by 

the commanding officer of an organization to try and to 

punish men for minor breaches of discipline. 
" Simfisher." A horse which has a peculiar turning movement 

when bucking. A voyage on a "sunfisher" is stormy. 
" Sway-back." A horse with a trench where his back ought to be, 

because his backbone sags in the middle. 



" Tailor made." Cigarettes bought ready made. 

" Tell it to the marines." An old army phrase used when a man 
is trying to get away with a fishy statement. The marine is 
half soldier and half sailor. He generally receives his pre- 
liminary training on land, after that on a ship. Upon arriv- 
ing on board the sailors tell him many impossible tales and 
he is supposed to believe them. 

** Three-and-a-kick." Three months in the guardhouse and a 
discharge from the army without honor. Generally given 
for repeated minor offenses. 

" Three-thirty." Term for sentence of S. C. M., — means three 
months in guardhouse and thirty dollars' fine. 

" Thrown off Guard." A soldier who at guard mounting has 
been rejected by the Adjutant because of dirty equipment. 
He is generally court-martialed or given extra fatigue. The 
supernumerary takes his place. The offender has to mount 
guard the next day. 

" Top Cutter." Slang for First Sergeant. 

" Top Sergeant." Slang for First Sergeant. 

" Top Soldier." Slang for First Sergeant. 

Troop or Company clerk. A soldier, generally a "non-com.," 
— although the regulations call for a private, — who helps the 
First Sergeant with the clerical work of the organization. 



364 First Call 

" Two and a butt." A term used when the enlistment period was 
three years. When a soldier is asked how long he has to do 
in the army he generally replies, "Two and a butt," "One 
and a butt," or "Just a butt" as the case may be. "Two 
and a butt" means two years and a fraction of a year; 
"One and a butt," a year and a fraction; "Just a butt," 
a few months. 

** Two-twenty." Sentenced by S. C. M. to two months' con- 
finement and fine of twenty dollars. 

" Typewriter." The army nickname for a lawnmower. 

V 

Venereal List. A list of names of men suffering from venereal 
diseases. These men are not allowed to visit town until 
they are cured or until the doctor strikes their names from 
the list. 

W 

Wagon master. A civilian in the pay of the Government who 
is in charge of a regimental wagon train. The men under 
him are also civilians. 

" Wagon Soldiers." Nickname for the field artillery. 

" Walking Post." A sentry guarding his post. 

War bridle. A bridle of rope used on horses which have a habit 
of bolting. The rope, in a half hitch, goes around the lower 
jaw, and is ver}^ effective for when the horse pulls against it 
he hurts himself and soon gives in. Would be good on a 
pacifist's jaw these days. 

" W. D." Abbreviation for War Department. 

Wheel team. Team of horses hitched nearest the artillery limber 
or caisson. 

" White lightning." Corn whiskey. (See Guardhouse!) 

Wig-wag. To signal with flags. 

" Windjammer." Army slang for trumpeter or bugler. 

" Working his ticket." A man who feigns stupidity or insanity, 
or one who constantly gets in the guardhouse for repeated 
minor offenses, in order to be discharged from the army under 
the caption "for the good of the serv^ice. " 



American Army Terms 365 

Y 

" Yellow ticket." Dishonorable discharge. The paper is yellow 

in color. 
" You'll find it on the pay roll." An expression used to a soldier 

when he tells of losing a part of his equipment. It means that <C^ 

the cost of the article will be entered against him on the next ,-* 

monthly pay roll and will be deducted from his pay. 



THE INTERNATIONAL MORSE OR GENERAL 
SERVICE CODE 

The International Morse Code is the General Ser- 
vice Code and is prescribed for use by the Army of 
the United States and between the Army and the 
Navy of the United States. It will be used on radio 
systems, submarine cables using siphon recorders, 
and with the heliograph, flash-lantern, and all visual 
signaling apparatus using the wig-wag. 

Alphabet. 

A • — N— • 

B— • • • 

C P I 

D Q 1 

E - R 

F • S . . . 

G T — 

H . . . . U • • — 

I . . V- • — 

J W 

K X—- • — 

L . Y 

M Z • 

366 



General Service Code 367 

Numerals. 

I 6—- • • • 

2 . 7 . . 

3. . 8 • 

4 . • . .— 9 

5 o 

Punctuation. 

Period 

Comma • — • — • — 

Interrogation • • • • 

Hyphen or dash — • • • — 

Parentheses (before and after the 

words) — • • — 

Quotation mark (beginning and 

ending) • — • • — • 

Exclamation • • ■ 

Apostrophe • • 

Semicolon — • — • — • 

Colon • • • 

Bar indicating fraction — • • — • 

Underline (before and after the word 

or words it is wished to underline) . • • • — 

Double dash (between preamble and 
address, between address and body 
of message, between body of mes- 
sage and signature, and imme- 
diately before a fraction) — * • • — 

Cross • — • — • 



368 



First Call 



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SEMAPHORE CODE, U. S. ARMY 



General Service Code 3^9 



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SEMAPHORE CODE, U. S. ARMY 



24 



IT IS THE REJIL STUFF 

OVER THE TOP 

BY AN AMERICAN SOLDIER WHO WENT 

ARTHUR GUY EMPEY 

MACHINE GUNNER, SERVING IN FRANCE 



JiUTHOR OF 

''FIRST CALL" 



For a year and a half, until he 
fell wounded in No Man's Land, this 
American soldier saw more actual 
fighting and real warfare than any war 
correspondent who has written about 
the war. His experiences are grim, 
but they are thrilling and lightened by 
a touch of humor as original as the 
Soldiers Three. And they are true. 

12'^. 16 Illustrations and Diagrams, $1.50 net. 
By mail. $1.60 

TOGETHER WITH TOMMY'S DICTIONARY OF THE 
TRENCHES 

*'Over The Top with the Best of 

Luck and Give Them Hell!" 

The British Soldier's War Cry, as he goes over the 
top of the trench to the charge 






"A War Lord of Laughter."— T/ze 
Literary Digest 

Fragments from 
France 

Author of 

SuUet? 4f Sittcfe 



SU5 

Captain Bruce Bairnsfather's sketches set all England 
chuckling, when they first appeared in the Bystander, and 
they have met with as hearty a welcome by Americans 
who have had the luck to see them. Greatest of all com- 
mendation, German prisoners have been known to be- 
come hilarious over these indescribable pictures of life in 
the trenches, and war-fed "Tommys" roar over them. 
Now, with their amusing captions, they have been 
gathered into one volume. 

These pictures have won in England for the author the 
title " The man who made the Empire laugh," and caused 
the Literary Digest to refer to him as " A War Lord of 
Laughter." They are all war pictures, but calculated to 
take a deal of the bitterness out of war. 



Bullets & Billets 

By 
Bruce Balmsfather 

Author of ''Fragments from France** 

72". 18 Full-page and 23 Text Illusiraiiom, $1S0 
B^ mail $1.60 

"•Bill/ 'Bert,' and 'Alf ' have turned 
up again. Captain iBairnsfather has 
written a book;— a rollicking and yet 
serious book — about himself and them, 
describing the joys and sorrows of his 
first six _ months in the trenches. His 
writing is like his drawing. It suggests 
a masculine, reckless, devil-may-care 
character and a workmanlike soldier. 
Throughout the book he is as cheerful 
as a schoolboy in a disagreeable football 
match.*' — London Evening NewS0 

G. P» Putnam's Sons 

New York London 



1 



Ordeal by Fire 

By 

Marcel Berger 

A Sergeant in the French Army 
IT. 540 pages. $1.50. By mail. $1.60 



The French "Mr. Briding 



5? 



Everyone who has read "Mr. 
Britling Sees It Through" will 
want to read ''Ordeal by Fire." 

An inspiring portrayal of the 
spirit of the French people and 
of Fighting France. 

G. P. Putnam's Sons 

New York London 



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^ /V- 111 Thomson Park Drive 

-O.'^ Cranberry Township, PA i RORfi 





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DEC 73 



N. MANCHESTER, 
INDIANA 46962 




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